A neutral, monomeric germanium(I) radical

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Jul 6;133(26):10074-7. doi: 10.1021/ja204344e. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Abstract

Stoichiometric reduction of the bulky β-diketiminato germanium(II) chloride complex [((But)Nacnac)GeCl] ((But)Nacnac = [{N(Dip)C(Bu(t))}(2)CH](-), Dip = C(6)H(3)Pr(i)(2)-2,6) with either sodium naphthalenide or the magnesium(I) dimer [{((Mes)Nacnac)Mg}(2)] ((Mes)Nacnac = [(MesNCMe)(2)CH](-), Mes = mesityl) afforded the radical complex [((But)Nacnac)Ge:](•) in moderate yields. X-ray crystallographic, EPR/ENDOR spectroscopic, computational, and reactivity studies revealed this to be the first authenticated monomeric, neutral germanium(I) radical.