Structure and Reactions of an Isolable Ge=Si Doubly Bonded Compound, Tetra(t-butyldimethylsilyl)germasilene

Tetra(t-butyldimethylsilyl)germasilene (8b) was synthesized using di(t-butyldimethylsilyl)hydridogermyllithium prepared by the germa-metallation of the corresponding dihydridogermane. Tetrasilylgermasilene 8b was obtained as single crystals by recrystallization from hexane at rt. The molecular structure of 8b is similar to those of the corresponding disilene 8a and digermene 8c but with an intermediate unsaturated bond length and twist angle between those of 8a and 8c. The reactions of 8b with methanol and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene gave the corresponding adducts. Equilibrium between 8b and the corresponding (trisilylsilyl)(silyl)germylene is suggested by the reaction of 8b with triethylsilane giving the germylene insertion product into the Si-H bond.