Interconversion of cyclotrimetallenes and dihalocyclotrimetallanes consisting of group 14 elements

The 1- and 2-disilagermirenes and cyclotrisilene were reacted with carbon t etrachloride or 1,2-dibromoethane to give almost quantitatively the corresp onding dihalocyclotrimetallane derivatives. The crystal structure of 1,2-di chloro-1,2, 3,3-tetrakis-[di-tert-butyl(methyl)silyl]-1, 2-disilagermirane showed a trans arrangement of the two chlorine atoms in the three-membered ring system. Reduction of the dihalocyclotrimetallanes with t-Bu3SiNa quant itatively produced the corresponding starting cyclotrimetal-lenes. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.