title: Germabenzenylpotassium: A Germanium Analogue of a Phenyl Anion.
abstract: Reduction of the stable germabenzene, 1-Tbt-2-tert-butyl-germabenzene (Tbt=2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), with KC8resulted in the formation of 2-tert-butylgermabenzenylpotassium, that is, the germanium analogue of phenylpotassium, under concomitant elimination of the aryl group from the Ge atom. Under an inert atmosphere, this germabenzenylpotassium could be isolated in the form of stable yellow crystals. In the crystalline state, as well as in solution, the germabenzenyl moiety adopts a monomeric form, even though the X-ray diffraction analysis suggests the presence of highly reactive Ge=C double bonds. The spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses, in combination with theoretical calculations indicate an ambident character for this germabenzenyl anion, with contributions from aromatic and germylene resonance structures.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5301-0024
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizuhata
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiori
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8244-3096
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5410-8488
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasamori
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1083-7245
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokitoh
keywords: aromaticity; germanium; germylene; phenyl anion