Carbene stabilized interconnected bis-germylene and its silicon analogue with small methyl substituents

The cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC) [:C{N-C₆H₃(2,6-IPr₂)}(CMe₂)₂CH₂] stabilized MeGeGeMe has been isolated in the molecular form with composition (cAAC)MeGe-GeMe(cAAC) (1) at room temperature. Compound 1 was synthesized from the reduction of MeGeCl₃ using three equivalents of KC₈ in the presence of one equivalent of cAAC. The corresponding silicon compound (cAAC)MeSi-SiMe(cAAC) (2) was also prepared. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of REER compounds (E = Ge, Si) carrying the smallest organic group. Furthermore the structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been investigated by using theoretical methods. The theoretical analysis of the structure of 1 is in agreement with the formation as an unprecedented carbene stabilized bis-germylene whereas compound 2 can be equally described as carbene stabilized bis-silylene with coordinate bonds as with classical double bonds of a 2,3-disila-1,3-butadiene. The compounds were also characterized by X-ray crystallography.