One-pot synthesis of heavier Group 14 N-heterocyclic carbene using organosilicon reductant

Abstract

Syntheses of heavier Group 14 analogues of "Arduengo-type" N-heterocyclic carbene majorly involved the use of conventional alkali metal-based reducing agents under harsh reaction conditions. The accompanied reductant-derived metal salts and chances of over-reduced impurities often led to isolation difficulties in this multi-step process. In order to overcome these shortcomings, we have used 1,4-bis-(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diaza-2,5-cyclohexadiene as a milder reducing agent for the preparation of N-heterocyclic germylenes (NHGe) and stannylenes (NHSn). The reaction occurs in a single step with moderate yields from the mixture of N-substituted 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene, E(II) (E(II) = GeCl2·dioxane, SnCl2) and the organosilicon reductant. The volatile byproducts trimethylsilyl chloride and pyrazine could be removed readily under vacuum. No significant over reduction was observed in this process. However, N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) could not be synthesized using an even stronger organosilicon reductant under thermal and photochemical conditions.