Reaction of [HC(CMeNAr)2]GeCl (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) with RLi (R = Me, nBu) in diethyl
ether at −78 °C yielded the alkylgermanium(II) compounds [HC(CMeNAr)2]GeR (R = Me
(5), nBu (6)), which are monomeric with a three-coordinate germanium center. Compound
5 was oxidized with sulfur and selenium to afford [HC(CMeNAr)2]GeMe(E) (E = S (7), Se
(8)), in which a terminal GeE double bond is present. Treatment of 5 with trimethylsilyl
azide in hexane at room temperature gave [HC(C(CH2)NAr)CMeNAr]GeMe(N(H)SiMe3) (9),
containing a Ge−N single bond; the expected compound [HC(CMeNAr)2]GeMe(NSiMe3) with
a GeN double bond was not observed. The latter reaction proceeds with migration of a
hydrogen atom from a methyl group of the ligand backbone to the nitrogen atom bonded to
the silicon atom with formation of a methylene moiety. X-ray structural data are provided
for 5, 6, 8, and 9.