Theoretical studies on the alkylidene germylenoid H2C=GeLiF and its insertion reaction with R-H (R = F, OH, NH2, CH3)

Abstract

The geometries and isomerization of the alkylidene germylenoid H2C=GeLiF as well as its insertion reactions with R-H (R = F, OH, NH2, CH3) have been systematically investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+ G* level of theory. The potential barriers of the four insertion reactions are 110.6, 145.0, 179.4, and 250.6 kJ/mol, respectively. Here, all the mechanisms of the four reactions are identical to each other, i.e., an intermediate has been formed first during the insertion reaction. Then, the intermediate could dissociate into the substituted germylene (H2C=GeHR) and LiF with a barrier corresponding to their respective dissociation energies. Correspondingly, the reaction energies for the four reactions are 43.6, 78.8, 113.5, and 128.0 kJ/mol, respectively. Compared with the insertion reaction of H2C= Ge∶ and R-H, the introduction of LiF makes the insertion reaction occur more difficultly. Furthermore, the effects of halogen (F, Cl, Br) substitution and inorganic salts employed on the reaction activity have also been discussed. As a result, the relative reactivity among the four insertion reactions should be as follows: H-F > H-OH > H-NH2 > H-CH3.