An Isolable Bis(Germylene)-Stabilized Plumbylone

We report herein the synthesis of a stable plumbylone (3) by reduction of a bromodigermylplumbylene (2) with 2.2 equiv of potassium graphite (KC₈). The molecular structure of 3 was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study and features a two-coordinated Pb center with an acute Ge−Pb−Ge bond angle. Computational studies showed that this complex (3) possesses a singlet electronic ground state with a Pb⁰ center. Its high thermal stability can be most likely ascribed to the delocalization of π electrons over the Ge−Pb−Ge moiety. A preliminary reactivity study demonstrates that complex 3 can deliver Pb⁰ atoms to an organic azide producing a tetrameric imido complex [(PbNDipp)₄] (Dipp=2,6-ⁱPr-C₆H₃, 4) and perform a metathesis reaction with GeCl₂⋅dioxane to produce a bis(germylene)-stabilized germylone (5), highlighting the synthetic utility of 3.