The first "heavy" cyclobutadiene dianions (CBD2-), tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)-1,2-disila-3,4-digermacyclobutadiene dianion 22- and tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)tetrasilacyclobutadiene dianion 42-, have been synthesized by the reductive dehalogenation of the corresponding precursors with potassium graphite in THF. Structural characterization of [K+(thf)2]2.22- and [K+(thf)2]2.42- has been achieved by X-ray crystallography, showing that the central four-membered ring is significantly folded and has two eta2-1,3-coordinated potassium cations accommodated above and below the ring. The "heavy" CBD2-'s 22- and 42- were found to be nonaromatic compounds, a conclusion that was supported by nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations showing a lack of diatropic ring current effects.

The unexpected reaction of tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]disilagermirenes (1a and 1b) with GeCl2.dioxane results in the quantitative formation of trans-1,2-dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-3Delta-1,2,3,4-disiladigermetene, 2, representing the first cyclotetrametallene containing two different heavier group 14 elements and the first digermene incorporated in a four-membered ring. trans-1,2-Dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrakis[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-3Delta-1,2,3,4-disilagermastannetene (8), with a Ge=Sn double bond, was also prepared by the reaction of 1 with SnCl2.dioxane. The crystal structure of 2 was established by X-ray crystallography, which showed a folded four-membered ring skeleton with a long Ge=Ge double bond (2.2911(4) A). The structural peculiarities of 2, as well as the possible mechanism of its formation, are also discussed.

The anionic complex of [tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl) tetrasilacyclobutadiene]dicarbonylcobalt, [(R4Si4)Co(CO)2]-.K+ (R = SiMetBu2) 2-.K+, was synthesized by the reaction of tetrasilacyclobutadiene dianion dipotassium salt [R4Si4]2-.2K+ 1 with an excess of CpCo(CO)2 in THF. X-ray analysis of 2-.[K+(diglyme)2(THF)] showed an almost planar Si4 ring of rectangular shape with an in-plane arrangement of the silyl substituents. 2- was also prepared as a free anion with the [K+[2.2.2]cryptand] counterion by complexation with [2.2.2]cryptand and as a dimer {2-.[K+(THF)3]}2 without complexing reagents in THF. Such a tetrasilacyclobutadiene fragment represents a new type of ligand for Co complexes, being the first example of a cyclobutadiene containing only heavier group 14 elements.

Unprecedented base-free bicyclic silylene complexes of molybdenum and tungsten 3a,b (a, M = Mo; b, M = W) were prepared by the reaction of the calcium salt of 1,2,3,4-tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)tetrasilabicyclo[1.1.0]butane-2,4-diide 2(2-) x Ca(2+) with Cp(2)MCl(2) (M = Mo, W). The unusual structural features of 3b (long SiW double bond, short skeletal (sp(2)-Si)-(sp(3)-Si) bonds and extremely long Si-Si bridge) are indicative of a contribution from the zwitterionic resonance form W(delta-)-Si(delta+), in which the electrophilic silicon center is stabilized by the Si(3)-homoaromatic conjugation. This was supported by the theoretical calculations (NBO, NPA) revealing the presence of pi(WSi) and sigma(Si-Si bridge) interactions.

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