| This thesis describes several new results for compounds with multiple bonding to heavier main group elements. This area is of considerable current interest. The use of bulky terphenyl ligands has enabled successful isolation of first acetylene analogue of heavier group 14 elements, 2,6-Trip2H 3C6PbPbC6H3-2,6-Tripe2, (Trip = -C6H2-2,4,6-i-Pr3). Also, the unprecedented singly reduced paramagnetic species (THF)3Na{lcub}(SnC 6H3-2,6-Trip2)2{rcub} and Na{lcub}Ge(C6 H3-2,6-Trip2){rcub}2 with formal Ge−Ge or Sn−Sn bond orders of 1.5 were characterized. A series of doubly reduced species M2{lcub}E(C6H3-2,6-Tripe2){rcub} 2 (M = Na, or K; E = Ge or Sn), which are analogues of the corresponding neutral doubly bonded arsenic or antimony derivatives, are also described. In addition to the homonuclear species described above, compounds that possess first stable triple bonds between germanium and chromium, molybdenum or tungsten as well as their corresponding single bonded species are reported. Furthermore, the synthesis and characterization of several examples of :ER2 or :ERR (E = Ge, Sn and Pb, R = C6H3-2,6-Mes2 or C6H3-2,6-Tripe2, Mes = −C6 H2-2,4,6-Me3; R′ = Me, t-Bu or Ph) which exist either as monomers or weakly associated metal-metal bonded dimers are given. The important precursors for multiple bonded species, terphenyl-metal halides of Ge, Sn, and Pb, E(X) {lcub}C6H3-2,6-Tripe 2{rcub}, and a mixture of Sn(X) {lcub}C6H3-2,6-Dipp 2{rcub} (Dipp = C6H3-2,6-i-Pr 2; X = Cl or I) are described. Finally, the unique examples of gem-dihydroxy derivatives of germanium and tin are reported and characterized. |
