Different reaction behavior of lead bis(tri-tert-butoxygermanate) and lead bis(tri-tert-butoxystannate) towards nonacarbonyldiiron [Chemistry of alkoxystannates ; 7]

Abstract

The stereochemical activity of the lone pair on the Pb atom of 1 is dramatically increased when Fe(CO)4 units are attached to the Ge atoms to form 2. In 1 the Pb atom is completely surrounded by three tert-butoxy groups; in 3 this congestion is relieved and replaced by a chelatelike coordination through an O and an Fe atom. In contrast, the coordination sphere of the Pb atom in 3 remains intact on formation of the analogous Fe(CO)4 adduct.