Ab initio Study of Mechanism of Forming Germanic Bis-Heterocyclic Compound Between Dichloro-Germylene Carbene (Cl2Ge=C:) and Formaldehyde

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of forming germanic bis-heterocyclic compound between singlet dichloro-germylene carbene and formaldehyde has been investigated with CCSD (T)//MP2/6-31G* method, from the potential energy profile, we predict that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction pathways. The presented rule of this reaction: the 2p unoccupied orbital of the C atom in dichloro-germylene carbene insert the pi orbital of formaldehyde from oxygen side, resulting in the formation of intermediate. In the intermediate and between two reactants, because of the two bonding pi orbital in dichloro-germylene carbene and formaldehyde have occurred [2+2] cycloaddition reaction, forming two four-membered ring compounds in which Ge and O are in the opposite orientation and in the syn-position, respectively. Because of the unsaturated property of C atom from carbene in the two four-membered ring compounds, they further reacts with formaldehyde, resulting in the generation of two germanic bis-heterocyclic compounds.