Monomeric C , N ‐Chelated Germanium Hydrides in N–C Bond Cleavage

The synthesis of the monomeric organogermanium(II) hydrides {(LGeH)M(CO)5} (M = Cr (4), W (5)) utilizing the C,N-chelated ligand L (L is [2-(CH2NEt2)-4,6-tBu2-C6H2]-) is reported. The stabilization of the GeH terminal bond in 4 and 5 is accompanied by the combination of the electronic and steric protection of the ligand L. The reactivity of the GeH terminal bond was also investigated and attempts to reduce the polar C≡N bond in tBuNC provided unexpected N-C bond cleavage reaction yielding organogermanium(II) cyanides {(LGeCN)M(CO)5} (M = Cr (6), W (7)) instead of hydrogermylation reaction