Cleavage of a N-H bond of ammonia at room temperature by a germylene.

The reaction of LGeCl [1; L = CH{(CMe)(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)N)}(2)] with 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene results in the formation of the germylene L'Ge [2; L' = CH{(C=CH(2))(CMe)(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)}]. 2 reacts with ammonia under N-H cleavage to give LGeNH(2) (3). This type of reaction can also be used to activate primary amines. 3 is characterized by microanalysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray structural analysis. The single-crystal X-ray structural analysis indicates 3 to be a monomer, and the germanium atom shows a trigonal-pyramidal environment with a stereochemically active lone pair.