Reactivity of N-Heterocyclic Germylene Toward Ammonia and Water

The new N-heterocyclic chlorogermylene 1 has been
synthesized in a four-step procedure starting from N-cyclohexylidene-2,6-diisopropyl-benzenamine. Dehydrochlorination
of 1 with an N-heterocyclic carbene furnished the corresponding
germylene 2 in good yield. The Ge­(II) centers in 1 and 2 are stabilized by nitrogen π-donors
and two bulky aryl groups. The reactivity of germylene 2 toward ammonia and water was investigated. Thus, ammonolysis and
hydrolysis of 2 at ambient temperature led to the germylene
amide 3 and the first monomeric germylene hydroxide 4, respectively. The new compounds 1–4 were fully characterized, including X-ray diffraction analyses.