Features of Cycloaddition Reaction Between Me2Ge=Ge: and Formaldehyde

Abstract

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet Me₂Ge=Ge: and formaldehyde has been investigated with the MP2/6-311++G** method in this article, it could be predicted that the reaction has one dominant reaction pathway. The dominant reaction pathway consists of three elementary reactions: (1) the two reactants form a four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring germylene; (2) the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring germylene further reacts with formaldehyde to form an intermediate; (3) the intermediate isomerizes to a spiro-Ge-heterocyclic ring compound via a transition state.