A Stable Silagermene ((Bu3Si)-Bu-t)(2)Si=Ge(Mes)(2) (Mes=2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl): Synthesis, X-ray Crystal Structure, and Thermal Isomerization

A stable silagermene, 1,1-bis(tri-tertbutylsillyl)-2,2-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)silagermene, was synthesized by the reaction of dilithiosilane ((Bu3Si)-Bu-t)(2)SiLi2 with dichlorodimesitylgermane. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallography, which showed the Si=Ge length to be 2.2769(8) angstrom. The silagermene underwent isomerization at 100 degrees C to form the corresponding symmetrically substituted isomer (E)-1,2-bis(tri-tertbutylsilyl)-1,2-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)silagermene. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:649-653, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20503