Chalcogeno[bis(phosphaalkenyl)] germanium and tin compounds.

The first diphosphaalkenylstannylene stabilized through complexation with a carbene NHC-Sn[C(Cl)═PMes*](2)1 (Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl; NHC = :C{N(iPr)C(Me)}(2)) was isolated and fully characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Its reaction with elemental sulfur rapidly gives the cyclic Sn(2)S(2) (dithiadistannetanne) derivative 3, presumably formed by dimerization of a stannathione intermediate. By contrast, its germanium analogue NHC-Ge[C(Cl)═PMes*](2)7 leads to the corresponding monomeric germathione 4 and germaselenone 5.

Phosphaalkenyl germylenes and their gold, tungsten and molybdenum complexes.

The new bis(phosphaalkenyl) germanium(II) compound (NHC)Ge(CCl=PMes*)(2) reacts with L(2)M(CO)(4) (M = Mo, W) to give bidentate complexes with an unexpected coordinating behaviour involving the Ge(II) centre and one phosphorus atom, and with AuI or Me(2)SAuCl to afford the monodentate complexes coordinated at the germanium(II) atom.