Preparation and structural characterization of bis[tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl]zinc, [(Me3Si)3Ge]2Zn

Bis[tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl]zinc, [(Me3Si)(3)Ge](2)Zn, was prepared by the reaction of [tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl]-lithium, (Me3Si)(3)GeLi(thf), with zinc chloride, ZnCl2, and by the reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl)germane, (Me3Si)(3)GeH, with diethylzinc, Et2Zn. The molecular structure of [(Me3Si)(3)Ge](2)Zn was determined by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. In [(Me3Si)(3)Ge](2)Zn, the two tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl ligands, (Me3Si)(3)Ge, are bonded in a linear fashion to the zinc atom and are staggered with respect to each other. The reactions of bis(germyl)zinc with substrates were also examined.