Heavier Group 14 Congeners of Metalla‐isobenzenes: Access to Metalla‐isosilabenzene and Metalla‐isogermabenzene by One‐Pot Reactions

Abstract

Comprehensive SummaryMetalla‐isosilabenzenes and metalla‐isogermabenzenes have been successfully synthesized by the formal [5+1]‐cycloaddition of diethynylsilane or diethynylgermane with simple metal complexes. This is the first example of a heavier Group 14 metalla‐isobenzene isomer bearing a cumulative double bond motif within a metallacycle. These novel complexes were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The stabilization of the cyclic metal‐vinylidene complexes has been analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When the metalla‐isosilabenzenes bearing Si—H bond were treated with the trityl salt as a hydride scavenger, the formation of silylium cation was observed spectroscopically. Both of metalla‐isosilabenzenes and metalla‐isogermabenzenes can readily undergo migratory insertion reactions to furnish siloles or germoles.