A convenient route to mixed cationic group 13/14/15 compounds

The formation of novel cationic mixed main group compounds is reported revealing a chain composed of different elements of group 13, 14, and 15. Reactions of different pnictogenylboranes R(2)EBH(2)·NMe(3) (E = P, R = Ph, H; E = As, R = Ph, H) with the NHC-stabilized compound IDipp·GeH(2)BH(2)OTf (1) (IDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene) were carried out, yielding the novel cationic, mixed group 13/14/15 compounds [IDipp·GeH(2)BH(2)ER(2)BH(2)·NMe(3)](+) (2a E = P; R = Ph; 2b E = As; R = Ph; 3a E = P; R = H; 3b E = As; R = H) by the nucleophilic substitution of the triflate (OTf) group. The products were analysed by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and for 2a and 2b also by X-ray structure analysis. Further reactions of 1 with H(2)EBH(2)·IDipp (E = P, As) resulted in the unprecedented parent complexes [IDipp·GeH(2)BH(2)EH(2)BH(2)·IDipp][OTf] (5a E = P; 5b E = As), which were studied by X-ray structure analysis, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Accompanying DFT computations give insight into the stability of the formed products with respect to their decomposition.