X-ray Crystallographic and Theoretical Comparison of Ge[2,4,6-(CF3)3C6H2]2 and Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 as Ligands in (Ph3P)2NiGeX2 Complexes

Abstract

A new transition metal germylene complex, (Ph3P)2NiGe[2,4,6-(CF3)3C6H2]2 (2), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The metrical parameters of complex 2 are compared and contrasted with the previously synthesized complexes (Ph3P)2NiGe[N(SiMe3)2]2 (3) and (Et3P)2PtGe[N(SiMe3)2]2 (1). Nonlocal BP86 density functional calculations support the presence of Ni−Ge d−p π bonding in complexes 2 and 3.