Silenes > Si=C <, germenes > Ge-C < and stannenes > Sn=C < - The French contribution

Various stable silenes drop Si=C drop, germenes drop Ge=C drop and stannene s drop Sn=C drop have been synthesized by reaction of tert-butyllithium wit h halovinylsilanes and -germanes (addition-elimination reactions)*. These t wo routes are among the most often used to synthesize stable organometallic alkenes. These derivatives, easily evidenced by their characteristic physi cochemical data, are extremely reactive, much more than their alkene analog ues, and appear as Fruitful synthons in organic and organometallic chemistr y. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.