Reversible Isomerizations between 1,4-Digermabenzenes and 1,4-Digerma-Dewar-benzenes: Air-Stable Activators for Small Molecules

The
first examples of stable, crystalline, and air-sensitive 1,4-digermabenzenes
were isolated. These species photochemically isomerize into the corresponding
air-stable digerma-Dewar-benzenes. More importantly, alkyl-substituted
Dewar-type-1,4-digermabenzenes can be considered as reversible “air-stable
activators” for small molecules such as dihydrogen, carbon
dioxide, and acetylene at room temperature. The regeneration of these
activators can be accomplished via a thermal retro-isomerization that
affords the corresponding 1,4-digermabenzenes.