A bis(germyliumylidene)silver(I) complex dication

Abstract

The reaction of the 2,6-bis(imino)phenylchlorogermylene [LGeCl] (1, L = C6H3-2,6-(HC=NtBu)2) with silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgOTf) in a molar ratio of 2:3 in toluene afforded a mixture of the bis(germylene)silver(I) complex [{L(TfO)Ge}2Ag(OTf)] (2) and AgCl. Compound 2 was then reacted with 2 equiv of 1,3-dimethyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe,:C{N(Me)C(Me)}2) in toluene to afford 3, which comprises the bis(germyliumylidene)silver(I) complex dication [{L(IMe)Ge}2Ag(OTf)]2+. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. [{L(IMe)Ge}2Ag(OTf)]2+ in compound 3 was further elucidated by DFT studies.