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The first diphosphaalkenylstannylene stabilized through complexation with a carbene NHC-Sn[C(Cl)═PMes*](2)1 (Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl; NHC = :C{N(iPr)C(Me)}(2)) was isolated and fully characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Its reaction with elemental sulfur rapidly gives the cyclic Sn(2)S(2) (dithiadistannetanne) derivative 3, presumably formed by dimerization of a stannathione intermediate. By contrast, its germanium analogue NHC-Ge[C(Cl)═PMes*](2)7 leads to the corresponding monomeric germathione 4 and germaselenone 5. The germaselenone was more stable than the germathione and could be structurally characterized. An unusual thermal cyclization reaction of the last one occurs with an excess of selenium to give the Ge(2)Se(3) (triselenadigermolane) ring derivative 6.

Novel germylenes [{Me3SiNC(Ph)NSiMe3}GeX] (X = Cl, Br, I) and [{Me3SiNC(Ph)NSiMe3}2Ge] with the bidentate phenylamidinato ligand have been synthesized in high yields by a salt metathesis reaction between Cl2Ge·dioxane or I2Ge and the lithium salt of the ligand. They were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray structure analyses, which confirmed N-chelation and a three-coordinate germanium center. The cycloaddition reactions with o-quinone led to cycloadducts, whose structures were determined by X-ray analyses. The chelation of the ligand to the metal center was conserved, affording penta- and hexacoordinated germanium(IV) atoms. Complexation reactions with [codW(CO)4] and [nbdMo(CO)4] resulted in trinuclear bis(germanium(II)) transition-metal complexes in “trans” octahedral geometry.