Pure Molecular Inorganic Rings: Mixed Group 14/15 Metallacycles.

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Homodipnictogen tetrahedrane complexes containing molybdenum offer unique reactivity.
• Disilylenes and digermylenes are reactive low-valent silicon and germanium species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reactivity of [{Cp'Mo(CO)2}2(μ,η2:2-E2)] complexes (E = P, As, Sb) with disilylene and digermylene.
• To synthesize and characterize novel silicon-pnictogen and germanium-pnictogen heterocycles.

Main Methods:

• Reaction of homodipnictogen tetrahedrane complexes with [LPhSi]2 and [LPhGe]2.
• Characterization of products using spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques.

Main Results:

• A variety of novel three- to five-membered silicon-pnictogen and germanium-pnictogen heterocycles were obtained.
• Unique cyclization behavior was observed, particularly for antimony, forming unprecedented Si-Sb and Ge-Sb ring systems.
• These metallacycles represent new bonding situations for heavy group 14/15 elements.

Conclusions:

• The reactivity of homodipnictogen tetrahedrane complexes with low-valent silicon and germanium species leads to diverse heterocycle formation.
• The study presents unprecedented examples of heavy group 14/15 heterocycles, particularly involving antimony.
• These findings open new avenues for exploring the chemistry and applications of these novel inorganic ring systems.