Photochemical synthesis and electron spin resonance characterisation of stable trivalent metal alkyls (Si, Ge, Sn) and amides (Ge and Sn) of Group IV elements

Abstract

The reaction of MCl₂(M = Ge or Sn) or Si₂Cl₆ with R¹Li or (R²₂N)Li [R¹=(Me₃Si)₂CH, R²= Me₃Si] and subsequent irradiation affords the stable metal-centred radicals R¹₃Si·, R¹₃M·, or (R²₂N)₃M·(e.g. R¹₃Ge· has t_½ > 4 months in C₆H₆ at 20 °C), the solution e.s.r. spectra of which show well defined hyperfine splittings [e.g. for (R²₂N)₃Ge·, a decet of septets, due to coupling with ⁷³Ge (I= 9/2) and ¹⁴N (I= 1)].