Organodihydridoelement anions of germanium and tin were reacted with metallocene dichlorides of Group 4 metals Ti, Zr and Hf. The germate anion [Ar*GeH2]− reacts with hafnocene dichloride under formation of the substitution product [Cp2Hf(GeH2Ar*)2]. Reaction of the organodihydridostannate with metallocene dichlorides affords the reduction products [Cp2M(SnHAr*)2] (M=Ti, Zr, Hf). Abstraction of a hydride substituent from the titanium bis(hydridoorganostannylene) complex results in formation of cation [Cp2M(SnAr*)(SnHAr*)]+ exhibiting a short Ti–Sn interaction. (Ar*=2,6‐Trip2C6H3, Trip=2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl).

The 2π electron 1,3‐dipole boradigermaallyl, valence‐isoelectronic to an allyl cation, is synthesized from a bis(germylene). It reacts with benzene at room temperature by insertion of a boron atom into the benzene ring. Computational investigation of the mechanism shows the boradigermaallyl reacting with a benzene molecule in a concerted (4+3) or [π4s+π2s] cycloaddition reaction. Thus, the boradigermaallyl acts as a highly reactive dienophile in this cycloaddition reaction with nonactivated benzene as diene unit. This type of reactivity provides a novel platform for ligand assisted borylene insertion chemistry.

The 2π electron 1,3‐dipole boradigermaallyl, valence‐isoelectronic to an allyl cation, is synthesized from a bis(germylene). It reacts with benzene at room temperature by insertion of a boron atom into the benzene ring. Computational investigation of the mechanism shows the boradigermaallyl reacting with a benzene molecule in a concerted (4+3) or [π4s+π2s] cycloaddition reaction. Thus, the boradigermaallyl acts as a highly reactive dienophile in this cycloaddition reaction with nonactivated benzene as diene unit. This type of reactivity provides a novel platform for ligand assisted borylene insertion chemistry.