Novel germylenes and stannylenes based on pyridine-containing dialcohol ligands

The reactions between M[N(SiMe3)(2)](2) (M = Ge, Sn) and three pyridine-based dialcohols yielded germylenes and stannylenes 1-6. The composition and structures of the novel compounds were established by elemental analyses, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The structures of insoluble species were confirmed by conversion to the corresponding dibromides 7-9. The single crystal structures of stannylene 4 and germylene 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. The germanium compound was found to be monomeric whilst the tin compound is a dimer. Both compounds possess strong transannular MN interaction in the solid phase. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.