Novel germylenes and stannylenes based on pyridine-containing dialcohol ligands

The reactions between M[N(SiMe3)2]2 (M = Ge, Sn) and three pyridine-based dialcohols yielded germylenes and stannylenes 1–6. The composition and structures of the novel compounds were established by elemental analyses, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The structures of insoluble species were confirmed by conversion to the corresponding dibromides 7–9. The single crystal structures of stannylene 4 and germylene 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. The germanium compound was found to be monomeric whilst the tin compound is a dimer. Both compounds possess strong transannular MN interaction in the solid phase.