Bulky arene-bridged bis(amide) and bis(amidinate) complexes of germanium(II) and tin(II).

Several new, very bulky arene-bridged bis(amine) (viz. 1,3- and 1,4-{N(H)(SiPri3)}2(μ-C6H4), L1H2 and L2H2, respectively) and bis(amidine) pro-ligands (viz. 4,6-{[Dip(H)N](DipN)C}2(μ-DBF), DBF = dibenzofurandiyl, L3H2; and 1,3-{Ar†N(H)C(But)N}2(μ-C6H4), Ar† = C6H2{C(H)Ph2}2Pri-2,6,4, L4H2) have been developed. All can be doubly deprotonated with LiBun. The resultant dilithium salts react with either GeCl2·(dioxane) or SnBr2 to yield a series of amidotetrelylenecyclophanes (:E(μ-L1)2E: and :E(μ-L2)2E:, E = Ge or Sn) and bis(halotetrelylene) complexes (:E(X)(μ-L3)(X)E:, E = Ge or Sn, X = Cl or Br; and :Ge(Cl)(μ-L4)(Cl)Ge:). Reduction of :Ge(Cl)(μ-L4)(Cl)Ge: with KC8 afforded the crystallographically characterised bis(amido/amidinatogermylene) compound, :Ge(μ-L4)2Ge:, which is believed to have formed via a disproportionation process.