The preparation of triethylphosphine adducts of cyclic disilylated or digermylated germylenes was achieved by reaction of 1,4-dipotassio-1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)tetramethyltetrasilane with GeBr2·(dioxane) and PEt3. Phosphine abstraction with B(C6F5)3 allowed formation of the base-free germylenes, which undergo 1,2-trimethylsilyl shifts to the germylene atom to form the respective silagermene or digermene, which further dimerize in [2 + 2] cycloadditions to tricyclic compounds. The reasons responsible for the germylenes’ completely different reactivities in comparison to the previously studied analogous stannylenes and plumbylenes were elucidated in a theoretical study.

Heterobimetallic complexes containing short uranium–group 10 metal bonds have been prepared from monometallic IUIV(OArP-κ2O,P)3 (2) {[ArPO]− = 2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-6-(diphenylphosphino)phenolate}. The U–M bond in IUIV(μ-OArP-1κ1O,2κ1P)3M0, M = Ni (3–Ni), Pd (3–Pd), and Pt (3–Pt), has been investigated by experimental and DFT computational methods. Comparisons of 3–Ni with two further U–Ni complexes XUIV(μ-OArP-1κ1O,2κ1P)3Ni0, X = Me3SiO (4) and F (5), was also possible via iodide substitution. All complexes were characterized by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The U–M bonds are significantly shorter than any other crystallographically characterized d–f-block bimetallic, even though the ligand flexes to allow a variable U–M separation. Excellent agreement is found between the experimental and computed structures for 3–Ni and 3–Pd. Natural population analysis and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) compositions indicate that U employs both 5f and 6d orbitals in covalent bonding to a significant extent. Quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules analysis reveals U–M bond critical point properties typical of metallic bonding and a larger delocalization index (bond order) for the less polar U–Ni bond than U–Pd. Electrochemical studies agree with the computational analyses and the X-ray structural data for the U–X adducts 3–Ni, 4, and 5. The data show a trend in uranium–metal bond strength that decreases from 3–Ni down to 3–Pt and suggest that exchanging the iodide for a fluoride strengthens the metal–metal bond. Despite short U–TM (transition metal) distances, four other computational approaches also suggest low U–TM bond orders, reflecting highly transition metal localized valence NLMOs. These are more so for 3–Pd than 3–Ni, consistent with slightly larger U–TM bond orders in the latter. Computational studies of the model systems (PH3)3MU(OH)3I (M = Ni, Pd) reveal longer and weaker unsupported U–TM bonds vs 3.

Complexes featuring lanthanide (Ln)–Si bonds represent a highly neglected research area. Herein, we report a series of open-shell LnII+ and LnIII+ complexes bearing σ-bonded silyl and base-stabilized N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) ligands. The reactions of the LnIII+ complexes Cp3Ln (Ln = Tm, Ho, Tb, Gd; Cp = cyclopentadienide) with the 18-crown-6 (18-cr-6)-stabilized 1,4-oligosilanyl dianion [(18-cr-6)KSi(SiMe3)2SiMe2SiMe2Si(SiMe3)2K(18-cr-6)] (1) selectively afford the corresponding metallacyclopentasilane salts [Cp2Ln({Si(SiMe3)2SiMe2}2)]−[K2(18-cr-6)2Cp]+ [Ln = Tm (2a), Ho (2b), Tb (2c), Gd (2d)]. Complexes 2a–2d represent the first examples of structurally characterized Tm, Ho, Tb, and Gd complexes featuring Ln–Si bonds. Strikingly, the analogous reaction of 1 with the lighter element analogue Cp3Ce affords the acyclic product [Cp3CeSi(SiMe3)2SiMe2SiMe2Si(SiMe3)2-Cp3Ce]2–2[K(18-cr-6)]+ (3) as the first example of a complex featuring a Ce–Si bond. In an alternative synthetic approach, the aryloxy-functionalized benzamidinato NHSi ligand Si(OC6H4-2-tBu){(NtBu)2CPh} (4a) and the alkoxy analogue Si(OtBu){(NtBu)2CPh} (4b) were reacted with Cp*2Sm(OEt2), affording, by OEt2 elimination, the corresponding silylene complexes, both featuring SmII+ centers: Cp*2Sm ← :Si(O–C6H4-2-tBu){(NtBu)2CPh} (6) and Cp*2Sm ← :Si(OtBu){(NtBu)2CPh} (5). Complexes 5 and 6 are the first four-coordinate silylene complexes of any f-block element to date. All complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic means and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the series 2a–2d, a linear correlation was observed between the Ln–Si bond lengths and the covalent radii of the corresponding Ln metals. Moreover, in complexes 5 and 6, notably long Sm–Si bonds are observed, in accordance with a donor–acceptor interaction between Si and Sm [5, 3.4396(15) Å; 6, 3.3142(18) Å]. Density functional theory calculations were carried out for complexes 2a–2d, 5, and 6 to elucidate the bonding situation between the LnII+ or LnIII+ centers and Si. In particular, a decrease in the Mayer bond order (MBO) of the Ln–Si bond is observed in the series 2a–2d in moving from the lighter to the heavier lanthanides (Tm = 0.53, Ho = 0.62, Tb = 0.65, and Gd = 0.75), which might indicate decreasing covalency in the Ln–Si bond. In accordance with the long bond lengths observed experimentally in complexes 5 and 6, comparatively low MBOs were determined for both silylene complexes (5, 0.24; 6, 0.25) .

Reaction of the PEt3 adduct of a disilylated five-membered cyclic germylene with group 4 metallocene dichlorides in the presence of magnesium led to the formation of the respective germylene metallocene phosphine complexes of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. Attempts to react the related NHC adduct of a disilylated four-membered cyclic germylene under the same conditions with Cp2TiCl2 did not give the expected germylene NHC titanocene complex. This complex was, however, obtained in the reaction of Cp2Ti(btmsa) with the NHC germylene adduct. A computational analysis of the structure of the group 4 metallocene germylene complexes revealed the multiple-bond character of the M–Ge(II) linkage, which can be rationalized with the classical σ-donor/π-acceptor interaction. The strength of the M–Ge(II) bond increases descending group 4.

Complexes featuring lanthanide silicon bonds represent a research area still in its infancy. Herein, we report a series of Cp-free lanthanide (+II) complexes bearing σ-bonded silyl ligands. By reactions of LnI2 (Ln = Yb, Eu, Sm) either with a 1,4-oligosilanyl dianion [K-Si(SiMe3)2SiMe2SiMe2Si(SiMe3)2-K)] (1) or with 2 (Me3Si)3SiK (3) the corresponding neutral metallacyclopentasilanes ({Me2Si(Me3Si)2Si}2)Ln·(THF)4 (Ln = Yb (2a), Eu (2b), Sm (2c)), or the disilylated complexes ({Me3Si}3Si)2Ln·(THF)3 (Ln = Yb (4a), Eu (4b), Sm (4c)), were selectively obtained. Complexes 2b, 2c, 4b, and 4c represent the first examples of structurally characterized Cp-free Eu and Sm complexes with silyl ligands. In both series, a linear correlation was observed between the Ln–Si bond lengths and the covalent radii of the corresponding lanthanide metals. Density functional theory calculations were also carried out for complexes 2a–c and 4a–c to elucidate the bonding situation between the Ln(+II) centers and Si.