Bis[(2-pyridyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-C,N]germanium(II): A base-stabilized germylene and the corresponding germanethione, germaneselenone, and germanetellurone

Bis[(2-pyridyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-C,N]germanium(II) (1) reacts with elemental chalcogens (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) to give the corresponding thione (2), selenone (3), and tellurone (4) at room temperature. At elevated temperatures, the dihydropyridinato compounds 5 and 6 are formed by a 1,3-trimethylsilyl shift from one of the methyl bridges to the sulfur and selenium atoms in 2 and 3, respectively. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (H-1, C-13, Si-29, Se-77, Te-125), MS (EI), and elemental analysis. X-ray crystal structure determinations are presented for 1, 3, 4, and 5.