Insertion of a Cationic Metallogermylene into E–H Bonds (E = H, B, Si)

A cationic germylene containing tungsten and N-heterocyclic carbene units reacted with H2 in fluorobenzene at 60 °C, resulting in its insertion into the H–H bond. It also activated the Si–H bond of ethyldimethylsilane and the B–H bond of pinacolborane at ambient temperature to give the insertion products. The latter insertion reactions against hydrosilane and hydroborane were found to be reversible.