The first stable stannanetriol and germanetriol bearing sterically congested aryl groups were synthesized by hydrolysis of the corresponding trichloro-stannane and -germane. The stannanetriol is monomeric in solution as well as in the crystalline state, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis and CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy. The stannanetriol reacted with silicone grease to afford a cagelike compound having three Sn–O–Si–O–Sn linkages in the molecule. All the group 14 triols can be converted to the corresponding trihalo compounds in good yields.

Group 14 monolithio compounds with sterically encumbered terphenyl ligands, ArM 14 (SiHMe 2 ) 2 Li [M 14 = Si, Ge, Sn; Ar = 2,6-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)phenyl and 2,6-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phenyl], were prepared by transmetalation reactions of ArM 14 (SiHMe 2 ) 3 with methyllithium, the structures of which were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The