Synthesis and structural characterization of a series of dimeric metal(II) imido complexes {M(mu-NAr(#))}2 [M = Ge, Sn, Pb; Ar(#) = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2] and the related monomeric primary amido derivatives M{N(H)Ar(#)}2 (M = Ge, Sn, Pb): spectroscopic manifestations of secondary metal-ligand interactions.

The solvent-free reaction of M{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) (M = Ge, Sn, or Pb) with the sterically encumbered primary amine 2,6-dimesitylaniline Ar(#)NH(2) [Ar(#) = C(6)H(3)-2,6(C(6)H(2)-2,4,6-Me(3))(2)] at ca. 165-175 degrees C afforded the highly colored imido dimers {M(mu-NAr(#))}(2), where M = Ge (1), Sn (2), or Pb (3), with disilylamine elimination. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. The structures of 1-3 were very similar and had nonplanar four-membered M(2)N(2) ring cores that are folded along the M---M axis. The nitrogen atoms are planar-coordinated, and the M-N distances are consistent with single bonding. The reaction of M{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) with Ar(#)NH(2) in a 2:1 ratio in solution at lower temperature afforded the relatively stable monomeric primary amido species M{N(H)Ar(#)}(2), where M = Ge (4), Sn (5), or Pb (6). Complexes 4-6 displayed V-shaped MN(2) structures, and 5 and 6 revealed close approaches between the metal atom and ipso-carbon atoms of two flanking Mes groups of the terphenyl substituents [Sn(II)---C (2.957 A) and Pb(II)---C (2.965 A)]. The secondary metal-ligand interactions exerted large effects on their electronic and NMR spectra.