SYNTHESIS AND REACTIONS OF THE FIRST STABLE 1-GERMAALLENE

The first stable 1-germaallene was synthesized by treatment of an extr emely hindered alkylidenetelluragermirane with a large excess amount o f hexamethylphosphorous triamide or by reductive dechlorination of the corresponding overcrowded (1-chlorovinyl)chlorogermane with t-butylli thium in THF. The germaallene was isolated as a colorless solid by the latter synthetic method and found to be fairly stable even in solutio n at room temperature, although it underwent an intramolecular cycliza tion at 80 degrees C in benzene.