Amidinatotetrylenes Donor Functionalized on Both N Atoms: Structures and Coordination Chemistry

E(hmds)(bqfam) (E = Ge (1a), Sn (1b); hmds = N(SiMe₃)₂, bqfam = N,N'-bis(quinol-8-yl)formamidinate), which are amidinatotetrylenes equipped with quinol-8-yl fragments on the amidinate N atoms, have been synthesized from the formamidine Hbqfam and Ge(hmds)₂ or SnCl(hmds). Both 1a and 1b are fluxional in solution at room temperature, as the E atom oscillates from being attached to the two amidinate N atoms to being chelated by an amidinate N atom and its closest quinolyl N atom (both situations are similarly stable according to density functional theory calculations). The hmds group of 1a and 1b is still reactive and the deprotonation of another equivalent of Hbqfam can be achieved, allowing the formation of the homoleptic derivatives E(bqfam)₂ (E = Ge, Sn). The reactions of 1a and 1b with [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene), [PdCl₂(MeCN)₂], [PtCl₂(cod)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene), [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] and [Co₂(CO)₈] have been investigated. The gold(I) complexes [AuCl{κE-E(hmds)(bqfam)}] (E = Ge, Sn) have a monodentate κE-tetrylene ligand and display fluxional behavior in solution the same as that of 1a and 1b. However, the palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [MCl{κ³E,N,N-ECl(hmds)(bqfam)}] (M = Pd, Pt; E = Ge, Sn) contain a κ³E,N,N'-chloridotetryl ligand that arises from the insertion of the tetrylene E atom into an M-Cl bond and the coordination of an amidinate N atom and its closest quinolyl N atom to the metal center. Finally, the binuclear ruthenium(0) and cobalt(0) complexes [Ru₂{μ_E-κ³E,N,N-E(hmds)(bqfam)}(CO)₆] and [Co₂{μ_E-κ³E,N,N-E(hmds)(bqfam)}(μ-CO)(CO)₄] (E = Ge, Sn) have a related κ³E,N,N-tetrylene ligand that bridges two metal atoms through the E atom. For the κ³E,N,N'-metal complexes, the quinolyl fragment not attached to the metal is pendant in all the germanium compounds but, for the tin derivatives, is attached to (in the Pd and Pt complexes) or may interact with (in the Ru₂ and Co₂ complexes) the tin atom.