Synthesis and exploration of a 1H-germol-1-ide/pyridine bidentate ligand†

The synthesis of an anionic [Ge,N]-bidentate ligand based on the combination of an amidopyridinato group with an anionic germolide ring is reported. The potential of the germolide part of this ligand to switch between η¹-(via Ge) and η⁵-(via C₄Ge) coordination modes makes this ligand an interesting synthetic target. Salt metathesis reactions of the potassium salt of this ligand with GeCl₂ dioxane and SnCl₂ allow the synthesis of bis-germolyl-substituted germylenes and stannylenes with the tetrel atoms in a distorted square pyramidal coordination environment.