Heavy Phenyllithium and -sodium: Synthesis and Characterization of Germanium Analogues of Phenyl Anion (‘Germabenzenyl Anions’)

Abstract

The heavier phenyl anion analogues, 2-tert-butylgermabenzenyllithium Li+·1− and sodium Na+·1−, were synthesized via aryl elimination from the corresponding 1-Tbt-2-tert-butylgermabenenze 3 (Tbt = 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl). The properties of Li+·1− and Na+·1− have been elucidated spectroscopically, and structural determination of Na+·1− was performed using X-ray diffraction analysis.