Alkyne Addition and Insertion Reactions of [(Me3 Si)3 Si]2 Ge⋅PMe3.

Silylated germylene-PMe3 adducts exchange their phosphane moiety smoothly for an N-heterocyclic carbene or isocyanide species to form their respective base adducts. Reaction of the silylated germylene-PMe3 adducts with monosubstituted alkynes produce germylene adducts with the alkyne inserted into a Ge-Si bond. A computational study of this process provides evidence for the initial formation of a germirene, which rearranges to a vinylgermylene species. The thermodynamic driving force for this reaction is provided by subsequent adduct formation with PMe3 . Reaction of the PMe3 adduct of bis[(trimethylsilyl)silyl]germylene with disubstituted alkynes leads to the formation of stable germirenes, which can be isomerized further to silagermetes.