A diarsagermylene and a diarsastannylene stabilised by areneGe/Sn interactions.

The synthesis and structures of two new diarsatetrylenes {(Dipp)2As}2E are presented [E = Ge, Sn; Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl]. The high barrier to planarisation of As prevents stabilisation by As-E π-interactions; however, areneGe/Sn interactions stabilise these compounds by up to 181.4 kJ mol-1. This represents a new stabilisation mode for this class of compounds.