OXIDATION AND THERMOLYSIS OF A STABLE GERMAKETENEDITHIOACETAL DERIVATIVE

The reaction of germaketenedithioacetal 2 with oxygen gave 1,3,2-dithi agermetan-4-one 4 and dihydroxygermane 6, suggesting the initial forma tion of a 1,2,3-dioxagermetane intermediate 3 followed by its dissocia tion into 4 and germanone 5. Compound 2 underwent ready thermal dissoc iation into carbon disulfide and the corresponding germylene 1, the ef ficient formation of which was evidenced by a trapping experiment with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene.