Reaction of an arsinoamide with chloro tetrylenes: substitution and As-N bond insertion

Reaction of the arsinoamide [(Mes(2)AsNPh){Li(OEt2)(2)}] with the low-valent group 14 compounds, [{PhC((BuN)-Bu-t)(2)}ECl] (E = Si, Ge) and GeCl2 center dot dioxane, resulted in two different reaction pathways: simple substitution or substitution accompanied by an insertion step. As a result, either insertion products with an As-SiN unit and an As-Ge bond, or substitution products, in which the intact arsinoamide binds to the group 14 elements via the N atom, were obtained.