Synthesis, Structure and Reaction of {Tris[2-(dimethylamino)phenyl]germyl}lithium (SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY-Synthetic Design)

Abstract

{Tris[2-(dimethylamino)phenyl]germyl}lithium (1) has been prepared from the corresponding hydrogermane (3) with tert-butyllithium. X-ray analysis of 1 shows that 1 exists as a mono-chelated monomer, where the lithium atom is coordinated with one of the amino groups and with two THF molecules. Reaction of 1 with elemental selenium gives 2, 2, 4, 4-tetrakis[2-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1, 3, 2, 4-diselenadigermetane (2). The nitrogen donor induces a novel type of reaction for the formation of the heterocyclic compound.