title: An N-heterocyclic silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex.
abstract: The synthesis of an N-heterocyclic silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex is described. The reaction of the amidinate-stabilized silicon(II) amide [LSiN(SiMe3)2] (1; L=PhC(NtBu)2) with GeCl2⋅dioxane in toluene afforded the Si(II)-Ge(II) adduct [L{(Me3Si)2N}Si→GeCl2] (2). Reaction of the adduct with two equivalents of KC8 in toluene at room temperature afforded the N-heterocyclic carbene silylene-stabilized digermanium(0) complex [L{(Me3Si)2N}Si→Ge=Ge←Si{N(SiMe3)2}L] (3). X-ray crystallography and theoretical studies show conclusively that the N-heterocyclic silylenes stabilize the singlet digermanium(0) moiety by a weak synergic donor-acceptor interaction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Yu-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Wai-Leung
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Cheuk-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: So
keywords: carbene homologues; density functional calculations; germanium; silicon; zero oxidation state