Addition of Isocyanides to Tetramesityldigermene: A Comparison of the Reactivity between Surface and Molecular Digermenes

Abstract

The reaction of benzyl isocyanide, tert-butyl isocyanide, and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide with tetramesityldigermene (Mes2 Ge=GeMes2 ) was examined. Whereas the addition of benzyl isocyanide gave the C-NC activation product, Mes2 Ge(CH2 Ph)Ge(CN)Mes2 , tert-butyl isocyanide, and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide did not give stable adducts, rather the rate of conversion of the digermene to the corresponding cyclotrigermane was accelerated. A comparison between the reactivity of the isocyanides with Mes2 Ge=GeMes2 and the Ge(100)-2×1 surface was made and some insights into the surface chemistry are offered.