Vinylidene (HC=C) is a member of the family of compounds of composition CH (and isomeric with ethyne, HC≡CH), but it has been observed only transiently-with a lifetime in the region of 0.1 ns. Indeed, no simple (non-base-stabilized) compounds of the type RE=E have been characterized structurally for any of the group 14 elements. Here we show that by employing the bulky and strongly electron-donating boryl ligand (HCDippN)B (Dipp, 2,6-PrCH), a simple monomeric digermavinylidene compound, (boryl)GeGe, can be synthesized and is stable at room temperature. Both its formation via the two-electron chemical oxidation of the symmetrical Ge compound K[(boryl)GeGe(boryl)] and its subsequent reaction chemistry (for example, with H), are consistent with a high substituent lability and the accessibility of both 1,1- and 1,2-substitution patterns. Structural and computational studies of [(HCDippN)B]GeGe reveal a weak Ge-Ge double bond-the π component of which contributes to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-with a Ge-centred lone pair as the HOMO-1.

Solubility problems solved: The first examples of discrete soluble zinc dihydride adducts with NHC ligands reacted with CO2 to produce formate species and efficiently catalyzed the dehydrocoupling of silanes with methanol. These compounds were characterized both in solution and in the solid state (see picture).

The synthesis of cylinder-type carbene complexes from polycarbene ligands and coinage metal ions via metal-controlled self-assembly has been explored. Imidazole reacts with 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene or 1,3,5-tribromobenzene to give 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(1-imidazolyl)benzene (1) and 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene (3), respectively. The tetrakisimidazolium salts of type H4-2a,b(Br)4 and the trisimidazolium salts of type H3-4a,b(Br)3 have been prepared by alkylation of the remaining free imines of the tetrakis- and trisimidazoles (H4-2a 4+, H3-4a 3+: R = n-butyl; H4-2b 4+, H3-4b 3+: R = ethyl). Polyimidazolium salts H4-2a,b(PF6)4 and H3-4a,b(PF6)3 have been synthesized by anion exchange from H4-2a,b(Br)4 and H3-4a,b(Br)3. Two equivalents of tetraimidazolium salt H4-2a(Br)4 or H4-2a,b(PF6)4 reacts with four equivalents of Ag2O to yield via self-assembly molecular cylinders of type [Ag4(2a)2]Y4 (Y− = [AgBr2]− and/or Br−) or [Ag4(2a,b)2](PF6)4, respectively. Similarly, reaction of two equivalents of trisimidazolium salts H3-4a(Br)3 or H3-4a,b)(PF6)3 with three equivalents of Ag2O yields the molecular cylinder [Ag3(4a)2](Y)3 (Y− = [AgBr2]− and/or Br−) or [Ag3(4a,b)2](PF6)3, respectively. Transmetalation of [Ag4(2a,b)2](PF6)4 with four equivalents of [AuCl(SMe2)] leads to the formation of the tetranuclear gold(I) complex [Au4(2a,b)2](PF6)4 with retention of the metallosupramolecular assembly. Analogously, transmetalation of [Ag3(4a,b)2](PF6)3 with three equivalents of [AuCl(SMe2)] or CuBr yields the trinuclear gold(I) complexes [Au3(4a,b)2](PF6)3 or the copper(I) complexes [Cu3(4a,b)2](PF6)3, respectively. Contrary to the metallosupramolecular assemblies of type [M4(2a)2]4+ (M = Ag+, Au+), tetrakisimidazolium salt H4-2a(Br)4 reacts with K2PtCl4 in the presence of NaOAc to yield the square-planar dinuclear complex [Pt2(2a)Br4].

Tris- and tetrakis(imidazolium) salts react with Ag(2)O to give cylindrical polynuclear silver(I) complexes such as the tetrasilver derivative [Ag(4)(1)(2)](PF(6))(4). The silver(I) complexes undergo transmetalation with [AuCl(SMe(2))] to yield homonuclear gold(I) complexes with retention of the metallosupramolecular assembly.

A series of new germylene compounds has been synthesized offering systematic variation in the σ- and π-capabilities of the α-substituent and differing levels of reactivity towards E-H bond activation (E=H, B, C, N, Si, Ge). Chloride metathesis utilizing [(terphenyl)GeCl] proves to be an effective synthetic route to complexes of the type [(terphenyl)Ge(ERn )] (1-6: ERn =NHDipp, CH(SiMe3 )2 , P(SiMe3 )2 , Si(SiMe3 )3 or B(NDippCH)2 ; terphenyl=C6 H3 Mes2 -2,6=Ar(Mes) or C6 H3 Dipp2 -2,6=Ar(Dipp) ; Dipp=C6 H3 iPr2 -2,6, Mes=C6 H2 Me3 -2,4,6), while the related complex [{(Me3 Si)2 N}Ge{B(NDippCH)2 }] (8) can be accessed by an amide/boryl exchange route. Metrical parameters have been probed by X-ray crystallography, and are consistent with widening angles at the metal centre as more bulky and/or more electropositive substituents are employed. Thus, the widest germylene units (θ>110°) are found to be associated with strongly σ-donating boryl or silyl ancillary donors. HOMO-LUMO gaps for the new germylene complexes have been appraised by DFT calculations. The aryl(boryl)-germylene system [Ar(Mes) Ge{B(NDippCH)2 }] (6-Mes), which features a wide C-Ge-B angle (110.4(1)°) and (albeit relatively weak) ancillary π-acceptor capabilities, has the smallest HOMO-LUMO gap (119 kJ mol(-1) ). These features result in 6-Mes being remarkably reactive, undergoing facile intramolecular C-H activation involving one of the mesityl ortho-methyl groups. The related aryl(silyl)-germylene system, [Ar(Mes) Ge{Si(SiMe3 )3 }] (5-Mes) has a marginally wider HOMO-LUMO gap (134 kJ mol(-1) ), rendering it less labile towards decomposition, yet reactive enough to oxidatively cleave H2 and NH3 to give the corresponding dihydride and (amido)hydride. Mixed aryl/alkyl, aryl/amido and aryl/phosphido complexes are unreactive, but amido/boryl complex 8 is competent for the activation of E-H bonds (E=H, B, Si) to give hydrido, boryl and silyl products. The results of these reactivity studies imply that the use of the very strongly σ-donating boryl or silyl substituents is an effective strategy for rendering metallylene complexes competent for E-H bond activation.

A series of single component FLPs has been investigated for small molecule capture, with the finding that through tuning of both the thermodynamics of binding/activation and the degree of preorganization (i.e., ΔS(⧧)) reversibility can be brought about at (or close to) room temperature. Thus, the dimethylxanthene system {(C6H4)2(O)CMe2}(PMes2)(B(C6F5)2): (i) heterolytically cleaves dihydrogen to give an equilibrium mixture of FLP and H2 activation product in solution at room temperature and (ii) reversibly captures nitrous oxide (uptake at room temperature, 1 atm; release at 323 K).

The catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia- and amine-boranes by a dimethylxanthene-derived frustrated Lewis pair is described. Turnover is facilitated on a thermodynamic basis by the ready release of H2 from the weakly basic PPh2-containing system. In situ NMR studies and the isolation of intermediates from stoichiometric reactions support a mechanism initiated by B-H activation, followed by end-growth BN coupling involving the terminal NH bond of the bound BN fragment and a BH bond of the incoming borane monomer.

The trinuclear cationic zinc hydride cluster [(IMes)3Zn3H4(THF)](BPh4)2 (1) was obtained either by protonation of the neutral zinc dihydride [(IMes)ZnH2]2 with a Brønsted acid or by addition of the putative zinc dication [(IMes)Zn(THF)](2+). A triply bridged thiophenolato complex 2 was formed upon oxidation of 1 with PhS-SPh. Protonolysis of 1 by methanol or water gave the corresponding trinuclear dicationic derivatives. At ambient temperature, 1 catalyzed the hydrosilylation of aldehydes, ketones, and nitriles. Carbon dioxide was also hydrosilylated under forcing conditions when using (EtO)3SiH, giving silylformate as the main product.