2,6-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine complexes of group 14 elements.

Treatment of MCl (M = Ge or Sn) with 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine (G-BZIMPY, G = NBn, N(3,5-CF)Bn, NAllyl and O) yielded the self-ionization products [G-BZIMPYMCl][MCl] (1-6) in high yields (75-98%). Reduction reactions are examined and the nickel complexes 8 and 9 ([(NBn-BZIMPY)Ni][MCl]) are isolated from the reaction of Ni(COD) with 1 and 2 respectively. [NBn-BZIMPYSnCl][SnCl] shows a significantly stronger MLCT band in the UV-vis absorption spectrum than its germanium counterparts, with germanium complexes exhibiting negative solvatochromism that is not observed in tin complexes.