title: Isolation of an imino-N-heterocyclic carbene/germanium(0) adduct: a mesoionic germylene equivalent.
abstract: An autoionization of germanium dichloride/dioxane complex with an imino-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (L) afforded a novel germyliumylidene ion, [(L)GeCl](+)[GeCl3](-), which was fully characterized. Reduction of the germyliumylidene ion with potassium graphite produced a cyclic species [(L)Ge], which can be viewed as both a Ge(0) species and a mesoionic germylene. X-ray diffraction analysis and computational studies revealed one of the lone pairs on the Ge atom is involved in the π system on the GeC2N2 five-membered ring. It was also confirmed that the nucleophilic behavior of [(L)Ge] as a two lone-pair donor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Link 21,Singapore 637371 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Bochao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Yongxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kinjo
keywords: carbenes; germanium; main-group elements; reduction