New (diarylgermyl)lithiums

The new (diarylgermyl) lithiums R 2 GeHLi (2; R=phenyl, mesityl) were prepared in good yields by hydrogermolysis reactions of tert-butyllithium in THF. The stability of compounds 2 depends on the nature of the R group and the solvent. For R=Ph, in the presence of an amine (Et 3 N or Et 2 NMe), the same reaction leads to the formation of the polygermanes H(GePh 2 ) n H (n=2-4). Their complexation with a crown ether is also reported. They are characterized by deuterolysis and alkylation reactions (with MeI and Me 2 SO 4 ). Their germylation reactions with →Ge−Cl reagents constitute a convenient way for synthesizing organohydropolygermanes. Compounds 2 also react with acyl chlorides to give new germyl ketones, R 2 HGeCOR', and the unexpectedly stable β-germyl diketone Ph 2 Ge(COMes) 2