SYNTHESIS OF CATIONIC GERMYLENEIRON COMPLEXES AND X-RAY STRUCTURE OF )(2)FE=GEME2-CENTER-DOT-DMAP]BPH4-CENTER-DOT-CH3CN (CP-ASTERISK = C5ME5, DMAP EQUALS 4-(DIMETHYLAMINO)PYRIDINE)

Chlorogermyliron complexes Cp(CO)(2)FeGeMe2Cl (1) and Cp*(CO)(PPh3)Fe GeMe2Cl (2) undergo chloride abstraction by AgBPh4 in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) to afford cationic germylene complexe s [Cp(CO)(2)Fe=GeMe2 . DMAP]BPh4 (3) and [Cp*(CO)(PPh3)Fe=GeMe2 . DMA P]BPh4 (4), respectively. Structural determination by X-ray crystallog raphy of 1 and 3 . CH3CN revealed that both complexes have a gauche co nformation with respect to the Fe-Ge bonds. The short Fe-Ge bond (2.32 9(3) Angstrom) and very long Ge-N (DMAP) bond (1.989(8) Angstrom) in 3 . CH3CN demonstrate the unsaturated bond character of the former and the dative bond character of the latter. The complexes 3 and 4 in dich loromethane revert to the parent complexes 1 and 2, respectively, via an electron-transfer process from the counteranion, BPh4-, followed by chlorine abstraction from the solvent.