Germaphosphenes MeS2Ge=PR (R: 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl (Is), 1; 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl (Ar), 2) react with a-ethylene aldehydes and ketones to give [2 + 2] and [2 + 4] cycloadditions (for aldehydes) and [2 + 4] cycloadditions and 1,2-additions (for ketones). Four- and six-membered ring derivatives can be easily differentiated by P-31 NMR chemical shifts which are, respectively, +36 to +89 ppm and -33 to -77 ppm. 5a', obtained from 2 and crotonaldehyde, has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction: the six-membered ring (germaoxaphosphorinene) conformation is a sofa form, with large folding along the Ge-C axis. A NMR study at various temperatures for 3a, 3a', and 5a' displays dynamic phenomenon including phosphorus and ring inversion. The low DELTAG* values (respectively 18.2,13.7, and 13.2 kcal/mol) seem mainly due to substitution of phosphorus by the electropositive germanium and particularly to large steric effects; the 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl group lowers the inversion barrier by 5 kcal/mol when compared with the 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl group.
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