Structures of 1,2-propadienylgermane (allenylgermane) and 1,2-propadienylstannane (allenylstannane) determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om060056n

Allenylgermane and allenylstannane (H₂C₍₄₎=C ₍₃₎=C₍₂₎HM₍₁₎H₃, M = Ge, Sn) have been synthesized, and their structures have been determined by ab initio and density functional theory calculations and gas electron diffraction. The only stable conformation of the MH₃ group has one of the M-H bonds synperiplanar to the double bond. The most important structural parameters (r_a/pm and ∠/degree) are as follows (Ge/Sn): M₁-C ₂ = 194.2(5)/213.2(7), C₂=C₃ = 131.2(3)/130.7(4), ∠M₁C₂C₃ = 120.7(3)/121.0-(7). The C₄ atom is bent slightly toward the M atom, making the C₂=C₃=C₄ bond angles 178.3(8)°/177.4(18)°. The difference between the two bond lengths C ₃=C₄ and C₂=C₃ is kept constant at the values obtained from the theoretical calculations. Uncertainties are estimated error essentially equal to 2.5 times one standard deviation from the least-squares refinement. The corresponding MP2 values using a cc-pVTZ basis set for all atoms, except for Sn, where the basis set is cc-pVTZ-PP, are as follows (Ge/Sn): M₁-C₂ = 193.0/211.7, C₂=C ₃ = 130.8/130.6, ΔCC = C₃=C₄ - C ₂=C₃ = 0.2/0.6, ∠M₁C₂C ₃ = 120.7/120.1 and ∠ C₂C₃C₄ - 178.1/177.8. The r_a(C-Sn) in vinylstannane is 215.1(6) pm, a decrease of 1.9 pm compared to allenylstannane, while the MP2 calculations predict an increase of 0.4 pm. The calculated rotational barrier for the MH ₃ group is 2.2 and 1.1 kJ mol^-1, respectively, for allenylgermane and allenylstannane.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/om060056n

2090
Organometallics 2006, 25, 2090-2096
Structures of 1,2-Propadienylgermane (Allenylgermane) and
1,2-Propadienylstannane (Allenylstannane) Determined by
Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction and Quantum Chemical Calculations
Tatyana Strenalyuk,† Svein Samdal,*,† Harald Møllendal,† and Jean-Claude Guillemin‡
Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, NO-0315 Oslo, Norway, and
Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, Unite´ Mixte de Recherche 6226 CNRS-Ecole Nationale Supe´rieure de
Chimie de Rennes, F-35700 Rennes, France
ReceiVed January 20, 2006
Allenylgermane and allenylstannane (H2C(4)dC(3)dC(2)HM(1)H3, M ) Ge, Sn) have been synthesized,
and their structures have been determined by ab initio and density functional theory calculations and gas
electron diffraction. The only stable conformation of the MH3 group has one of the M-H bonds
synperiplanar to the double bond. The most important structural parameters (ra/pm and /degree) are as
follows (Ge/Sn): M1-C2 ) 194.2(5)/213.2(7), C2dC3 ) 131.2(3)/130.7(4), M1C2C3 ) 120.7(3)/121.0-
(7). The C4 atom is bent slightly toward the M atom, making the C2dC3dC4 bond angles 178.3(8)°/
177.4(18)°. The difference between the two bond lengths C3dC4 and C2dC3 is kept constant at the
values obtained from the theoretical calculations. Uncertainties are estimated error essentially equal to
2.5 times one standard deviation from the least-squares refinement. The corresponding MP2 values using
a cc-pVTZ basis set for all atoms, except for Sn, where the basis set is cc-pVTZ-PP, are as follows
(Ge/Sn): M1-C2 ) 193.0/211.7, C2dC3 ) 130.8/130.6, ∆CC ) C3dC4 - C2dC3 ) 0.2/0.6, M1C2C3
) 120.7/120.1 and C2C3C4 ) 178.1/177.8. The ra(C-Sn) in vinylstannane is 215.1(6) pm, a decrease
of 1.9 pm compared to allenylstannane, while the MP2 calculations predict an increase of 0.4 pm. The
calculated rotational barrier for the MH3 group is 2.2 and 1.1 kJ mol-1, respectively, for allenylgermane
and allenylstannane.
germanes,8-13 ethynylgermane,14 methylgermane,15 ethylger-
mane,16 ethylchlorogermane,17 cyclopropylgermane,18 vinylger-
mane,19 (halomethyl)germane,20,21 and propargylgermane22 and
organostannanes such as stannane,8 trimethylstannylacety-
lene,23,24 methylstannane25 bis(trimethylstannyl)acetylene,26 tet-
ramethyltin,27 and tetraethynyltin28 have been determined. The
Introduction
Few primary allenic heterocompounds have been synthesized.
Allenic alcohols1,2 and amines1,2 have been described twenty
years ago. The first allenylphosphines,3 arsines,4 stibines,5 and
stannanes6 have been reported a decade ago. There is not much
information about the structure of primary allenylgermanes,
allenylthiols, and allenylselenols to be found in the literature.
Primary allenic derivatives are an interesting group of com-
pounds because of the presence of an allenyl function connected
to a heteroatom MHn group. It has been demonstrated that for
some of them they rearrange into the corresponding 1-hetero-
dienes.5
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1888.
Considerable progress has been made in the last decade
toward the synthesis of primary R,â- and â,γ-unsaturated
germanes and stannanes.6,7 Some experimental gas-phase struc-
tures of organogermanes such as germane and halogenated
* Corresponding author. E-mail svein.samdal@kjemi.uio.no. Tel: 47
2285 5458. Fax: +47 2285 5441.
(17) Durig, J. R.; Pan, C.; Guirgis, G. A. J. Mol. Struct. 2002, 607, 117.
(18) Epple, K. J.; Rudolph, H. D. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1992, 152, 355.
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7400.
† University of Oslo.
‡ Ecole Nationale Supe´rieure de Chimie de Rennes.
(1) Hakiki, A.; Jabry, Z.; Ripoll, J. L.; Thuillier, A. Tetrahedron Lett.
1984, 25, 3461.
(20) Krisher, L. C.; Watson, W. A.; Morrison, J. A. J. Chem. Phys. 1974,
60, 3417.
(2) Hakiki, A.; Ripoll, J. L.; Thuillier, A. Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1985,
911.
(21) Nakagawa, J.; Hayashi, M. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1976, 49, 3441.
(22) Strenalyuk, T.; Samdal, S.; Møllendal, H.; Guillemin, J.-C. J. Mol.
Struct. 2006, 780-781, 157.
(3) Guillemin, J. C.; Savignac, P.; Denis, J. M. Inorg. Chem. 1991, 30,
2170.
(4) Lassalle, L.; Legoupy, S.; Guillemin, J.-C. Inorg. Chem. 1995, 34,
5694.
(5) Lassalle, L.; Legoupy, S.; Guillemin, J.-C. Organometallics 1996,
15, 3466.
(6) Lassalle, L.; Janati, T.; Guillemin, J.-C. J. Chem. Soc., Chem.
Commun. 1995, 699.
(7) Guillemin, J.-C.; Malagu, K. Organometallics 1999, 18, 5259.
(23) Belyakov, A. V.; Khaikin, L. S.; Vilkov, L. V.; Apal′kova, G. M.;
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10.1021/om060056n CCC: $33.50 © 2006 American Chemical Society
Publication on Web 03/14/2006

Structures of Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006 2091
for the preparation of 2-propynylphosphine.35 In a 100 mL two-
necked flask equipped with a stirring bar and a septum were
introduced the reducing agent (LiAlH4, 0.38 g, 10 mmol) and
tetraglyme (30 mL). The flask was attached to the vacuum line
equipped with two traps, immersed in a cold bath (0 °C), and
degassed. The allenyltrichlorogermane (654 mg, 3.0 mmol) diluted
in tetraglyme (10 mL) was slowly added with a flex-needle through
the septum for about 5 min. During and after addition the formed
allenylgermane was distilled off in vacuo from the reaction mixture.
The first cold trap (-80 °C) removed less volatile products, and
the allenylgermane was condensed in the second cold trap (-120
°C) to remove the most volatile products (mainly GeH4). After
disconnection from the vacuum line by stopcocks, the product was
kept at a low temperature (<-50 °C) before analysis. The
allenylgermane was thus obtained in a 78% yield (268 mg). τ1/2
(5% in CD2Cl2, 293 K): 2 days. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CD2Cl2, 293
first structural studies of vinylstannane and allylstannane29 will
be published shortly.
In this work, a structural study is devoted to allenylgermane
and allenylstannane (H2CdCdCHMH3, M ) Ge, Sn), the
simplest propadienyl heterocompounds with group 14 elements.
To our knowledge, no experimental structural investigations
either by electron diffraction, microwave spectroscopy, or
quantum chemical calculations have previously been reported
for the two title compounds as well as for any primary allenic
heterocompound except allenylphosphine.30 Gas electron dif-
fraction (GED) and modern quantum chemical calculations are
well suited to investigate structural features presented by these
two compounds. The scarcity of information concerning the
molecular structure of organostannanes and organogermanes was
the motivation to undertake the present study. Moreover, so far
only one experimental C(sp2)-Ge bond length for a free
molecule has been determined (vinylgermane)19 by microwave
spectroscopy, and a comparison would be interesting. We also
want to focus on the linearity of the CdCdC group. Due to
the molecular symmetry (Cs), the CdCdC group is not expected
to be completely linear, and it would be of interest to examine
any deviation from linearity and in which direction the deviation
appears, toward or away from the metal atom. Finally, it would
also be of interest to examine the influence that a vinyl and
allenyl group would have on the C-Ge,Sn bond length and in
particular if the perpendicular π-system in the allenyl group
would have any pronounced influence on the bond distance.
3
5
K): δ 3.97 (dt, 3H, JHH ) 2.9 Hz, JHH ) 1.5 Hz, GeH3); 4.42
4
5
4
(dq, 2H, JHH ) 7.1 Hz, JHH ) 1.5 Hz, CH2); 4.96 (tq, 1H, JHH
) 7.1 Hz, 3JHH ) 2.9 Hz, CH). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CD2Cl2, 293
K): δ 67.6 (t, JCH ) 167.9 Hz, CH2); 70.5 (d, JCH ) 166.2 Hz,
CH); 212.8 (s, CdCdC). HRMS: calcd for C3H574Ge [M - H]+
114.9603; found 114.959.
1
1
Synthesis of Allenylstannane.6 The general procedure has been
used with allenyltrichlorostannane (1.33 g, 5 mmol) and, as reducing
agent, tributyltin hydride (8.7 g, 30 mmol) with small amounts of
duroquinone. The allenylstannane was thus obtained in a 63% yield
(510 mg). It was stabilized in diethylene glycol dibutyl ether with
small amounts duroquinone and stored at dry ice temperature. τ1/2
1
(5% in CD2Cl2, 293 K): 6 h. H NMR (400 MHz, CD2Cl2, 293
K): δ 4.32 (d, 2H, 4JHH ) 7.1 Hz, 4JSnH ) 57.9 Hz (d), CH2); 4.95
(dt, 3H, 3JHH ) 1.8 Hz, 5JHH ) 0.9 Hz, 1JSnH ) 1967 Hz (d), SnH3);
Experimental Section
5.01 (tq, 1H, 4JHH ) 7.1 Hz, 3JHH ) 1.8 Hz, 2JSnH ) 169.2 Hz (d),
Synthesis of Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane. Allenylger-
mane has been synthesized in a two-step sequence starting from
the reaction of propargyltriphenylstannane with germanium tetra-
chloride followed by chemoselective reduction of the formed
allenyltrichlorogermane7 with LAH. Allenylstannane was prepared
by reduction of the allenyltrichlorostannane6 with tin hydride in
the presence of a radical inhibitor. Both reactions were performed
using a vacuum line. Yields were determined by 1H NMR
spectroscopy using an internal reference (C6H6). Propadienylger-
mane is kinetically much more stable than the corresponding tin
derivative. Similar observations have already been reported for
vinyl, ethynyl, allyl, and propargyl derivatives.6,7,14,31-34
1
CH). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CD2Cl2, 293 K): δ 65.2 (t, JCH
)
3
1
167.8 Hz, JSnC ) 58.8 Hz (d), CH2); 67.4 (d, JCH ) 169.5 Hz,
1JSnC ) 489 Hz (d), CH); 212.6 (s, CdCdC). 119Sn NMR (111
MHz, C6D6/C7H8, 243 K): δ -338.4. HRMS: calcd for [M - H]+
(C3H5120Sn)+ 160.9413; found 160.942.
Microwave Experiment. Attempts were made to observe the
microwave spectrum of the title compounds in the 26-62 GHz
spectral interval using the Oslo Stark spectrometer.36 However, no
signals that could be attributed to these molecules were observed.
Since the intensities of the spectral transitions are proportional to
the square of the dipole moment, the failure to observe a spectrum
is assumed to indicate that the dipole moment of the compounds is
too small. This is consistent with the quantum chemical predictions
described below.
Electron Diffraction Experiment. Both compounds were
synthesized in Oslo as described in the section above and stored at
dry ice temperature. The purity of allenylgermane and allenylstan-
1
nane determined by H NMR spectroscopy was about 92% and
90%, respectively. Allenylstannane is unstable in pure form at a
temperature higher than -100 °C. So only a sample diluted in a
high-boiling glyme was used to record the GED data. Both
compounds were distilled directly into the apparatus. The sample
bulb was kept at dry ice temperature and the nozzle at room
temperature. The vapor pressure of the sample was not monitored
during the experiment. After the recording of the electron diffraction
Caution: Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane are pyrophoric
and potentially toxic. All reactions and handling should be carried
out in a well-Ventilated hood.
Synthesis of Allenylgermane. General Procedure. The ap-
paratus used for both reductions was similar to the one described
(31) Lasalle, L.; Janati, T.; Guillemin, J.-C. J. Chem. Soc., Chem.
Commun. 1995, 699.
(32) Janati, T.; Guillemin, J.-C.; Soufiaoui, M. J. Organomet. Chem.
1995, 486, 57.
(26) Khaikin, L. S.; Grikina, O. E.; Sipachev, V. A.; Belyakov, A. V.;
Bogoradovskii, E. T. Russ. Chem. Bull. (Translation of IzVestiya Akademii
Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya) 2000, 49, 631.
(27) Nagashima, M.; Fujii, H.; Kimura, M. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1973,
46, 3708.
(28) Khaikin, L. S.; Belyakov, A. V.; Vilkov, L. V.; Bogoradovskii, E.
T.; Zavgorodnii, V. S. J. Mol. Struct. 1980, 66, 149.
(29) Strenalyuk, T. S.; Samdal, S.; Møllendal, H.; Guillemin, J.-C.
Organometallics, submitted.
(33) Ponomarenko, V. A.; Zueva, G. Y.; Andreev, N. S. IzV. Akad. Nauk
SSSR, Ser. Khim. 1961, 1758.
(34) Brinckman, F. E.; Stone, F. G. A. J. Inorg., Nucl. Chem. 1959, 11,
24.
(35) Demaison, J.; Guillemin, J.-C.; Møllendal, H. Inorg. Chem. 2001,
40, 3719.
(30) Møllendal, H.; Demaison, J.; Petitprez, D.; Wlodarczak, G.;
Guillemin, J.-C. J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 115.
(36) Møllendal, H.; Leonov, A.; de Meijere, A. J. Phys. Chem. A 2005,
109, 6344.

2092 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006
Strenalyuk et al.
Figure 1. The antiperiplanar (ap) and synperiplanar (sp) rotamers
of allenylgermane (M1 ) Ge) and allenylstannane (M1 ) Sn).
Figure 3. Radial distribution (upper) and difference (lower) curves
for allenylgermane.
Figure 2. Intensity curves for allenylgermane. The two upper
curves are for the y- and x-directions of the long camera distance,
respectively. The next two curves are for the y- and x-directions of
the middle camera distance. The four lower curves are difference
curves. Camera distances are found in Table 1.
Figure 4. Intensity curves for allenylstannane. The two upper
curves are for the y- and x-directions of the long camera distance,
respectively. The two next curves are for the y- and x-directions of
the middle camera distance. The four lower curves are difference
curves. Camera distances are found in Table 1.
data a sample bulb exploded and destroyed a Dewar and several
synthesized compounds. The quality of the allenylstannane electron
diffraction data is not as good as usually achieved, because
repetition of the experiment could not be performed.
The GED data were recorded using a Balzers KD-G2 unit.37 The
experimental data were recorded on BAS-III image plates, which
were scanned using a BAS-1800II scanner. Both the image plates
and the scanner are manufactured by FujiFilm. The image plates
are more sensitive and have a higher resolution, a much higher
linear response, and a higher dynamic range than photographic
plates. Owing to the high linear response of the image plates, no
blackness correction is needed.
Each image plate was divided into four sectors, two in the
x-direction (left and right) and two in the y-direction (up and down).
Data for each sector were treated separately, and the two sectors
in the x-direction were averaged to give one modified intensity curve
in the x-direction and, similarly, one modified intensity curve in
the y-direction. The data range in the x- and y-direction is slightly
different, as a consequence of the rectangular shape of the image
plate. This procedure applies for both camera distances and gave
four curves, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4. These four curves
were used in the least-squares structure analysis. The raw data were
further processed as described elsewhere.38
The necessary modification and scattering functions were
computed from tabulated atomic scattering factors39 for the proper
wavelength and s-values. The experimental backgrounds were
computed using the program KCED12,40 where the coefficients of
a chosen degree of a polynomial function are determined by the
least-squares method by minimizing the differences between the
total experimental intensity and the molecular intensity calculated
from the current best geometrical model. The average experimental
intensities were modified by s/|f′C f′M|, (M ) Ge, Sn), where f′
denotes the coherent scattering factors. The experimental conditions
employed in the GED experiments are given in Table 1.
Quantum Chemical Calculations. Quantum chemical calcula-
tions were performed for the title compounds using the GAUSS-
IAN03 suite of programs41 running on the HP “superdome” facilities
(39) Ross, A. W.; Fink, M.; Hilderbrandt, R. International Tables for
Crystallography; Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, 1992.
(40) Gundersen, G.; Samdal, S. Annual Report 1976 from the Norwegian
GED group 1976.
(41) Frisch, M. J.; Trucks, G. W.; Schlegel, H. B.; Scuseria, G. E.; Robb,
M. A.; Cheeseman, J. R.; Montgomery, J. A., Jr.; Vreven, T.; Kudin, K.
N.; Burant, J. C.; Millam, J. M.; Iyengar, S. S.; Tomasi, J.; Barone, V.;
Mennucci, B.; Cossi, M.; Scalmani, G.; Rega, N.; Petersson, G. A.;
Nakatsuji, H.; Hada, M.; Ehara, M.; Toyota, K.; Fukuda, R.; Hasegawa, J.;
(37) Zeil, W.; Haase, J.; Wegmann, L. Z. Instrumentenk. 1966, 74, 84.
(38) Gundersen, S.; Samdal, S.; Seip, R.; Strand, T. G. J. Mol. Struct.
2004, 691, 149.

Structures of Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006 2093
Table 1. Experimental Conditions of the GED Investigation.
allenylgermane
allenylstannane
camera distance/mm
electron wavelength/pm
nozzle temperature/°C
s ranges/nm-1
248.77
5.813
23
498.74
5.813
23
248.78
5.820
23
498.86
5.820
23
x-direction
40.00-305.00
40.00-260.00
1.25
20.00-150.00
17.50-126.25
1.25
40.00-270.00
40.00-240.00
1.25
25.00-150.00
25.00-130.00
1.25
y-direction
∆s/nm-1
Table 2. Calculated Structurea,b for the sp Form of
Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane (Cs-symmetry)
in Oslo. Full geometry optimizations were carried out for the sp
and ap forms (Figure 1) by density functional theory calculations
at the B3LYP level.42,43 Dunning’s correlation-consistent polarized
valence triple-ú (cc-pVTZ) basis set44 was employed for the
germanium, carbon, and hydrogen atoms, whereas the cc-pVTZ-
PP basis set45 was used for the tin atom. This basis set includes a
small-core relativistic pseudopotential to replace 28 core electrons
([Ar] + 3d).46 Vibrational frequencies were calculated in each case.
It has been claimed that Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation
calculations (MP2) using a comparatively large basis set will predict
structures that are close to the equilibrium structures;47 therefore
MP2 frozen core (FC) calculations using the same basis sets were
also performed.
The calculated molecular structures of the most stable sp
conformation are listed in Table 2. The structure of the ap form is
also calculated, and it is found to be very similar to the sp form.
The vibrational frequencies and their assignments are given in Table
3. No experimental vibrational frequencies have been reported for
these molecules.
allenylgermane
B3LYP MP2
allenylstannane
B3LYP
MP2
Bond Lengths
193.0
M1-C2
C2dC3
C3dC4
M1-H8
M1-H9
C2-H7
C4-H5
195.7
129.8
130.2
153.4
153.9
108.6
108.3
215.3
129.6
130.4
171.1
171.7
108.5
108.3
211.7
130.6
131.2
168.6
169.1
108.4
108.1
130.8
131.0
151.5
152.0
108.4
108.1
Bond Angles
120.7
M1C2C3
C2C3C4
C3C4H5
C3C2H7
C2M1H8
C2M1H9
H8M1H9
H9M1H10
122.4
178.5
121.3
119.4
109.0
109.7
110.0
108.2
121.6
178.1
121.3
120.2
108.3
109.4
110.5
108.7
120.1
177.8
120.7
118.9
107.5
109.7
110.5
108.8
178.1
120.7
118.7
108.1
109.9
110.2
108.6
The sp form was found to be more stable than the ap
conformation for both molecules. The B3LYP energy difference
is 2.2 and 1.1 kJ/mol respectively for allenylgermane and allenyl-
stannane. No imaginary vibrational frequencies were computed for
the sp form as opposed to the ap rotamer, which was found to
have one imaginary frequency associated with rotation of the MH3
group about the M1-C2 bond. The sp form is therefore a minimum
on the energy hypersurface, whereas the ap form is a first-order
transition state.48 The energy difference of the two forms corre-
sponds to the rotational barrier of the MH3 group.
It should be noted that the MP2 structural parameters are close
to those computed using the B3LYP procedures, apart from the
M1-C2 bond length, which is predicted to be significantly shorter
by about 3 pm in the MP2 calculations than in the B3LYP
calculations.
Dihedral Angles
C3C2M1H8
C3C2M1H9
C2C3C4H6
0.0
120.6
90.2
0.0
120.3
90.3
0.0
120.5
90.3
0.0
120.3
90.4
a Distances in pm, angles in deg. b The following basis sets were used:
cc-pVTZ for allenylgermane, cc-pVTZ for C and H atoms, and cc-pVTZ-
PP for the Sn atom in allenylstannane. The frozen-core procedure was
employed for MP2.
Table 3. Calculated Fundamental Frequencies (cm-1) and
Assignments for the sp Rotamer of Allenylgermane and
Allenylstannane
Ge-B3LYP Ge-MP2 Sn-B3LYP Sn-MP2
1 A′′ CH2 as str
2 A′ CH str
3199
3127
3124
2027
2153
2125
2123
1460
1244
1094
1015
868
3271
3185
3181
2021
2291
2266
2263
1462
1239
1080
1009
887
3201
3134
3128
2019
1920
1895
1893
1458
1214
1082
1015
874
840
725
713
685
636
531
432
396
3272
3187
3181
2057
2039
2035
2012
1460
1211
1073
1009
888
826
766
754
721
654
547
458
412
3 A′ CH2 sym str
4 A′ CdCdC as str
5 A′ MH3 as str
6 A′′ MH3 as str
7 A′ MH3 s str
8 A′ CH2 scis
9 A′ CdCdC sym str
10 A′ CH rock
11 A′′ CH2 rock
12 A′′ CH2 twist
13 A′ CH2 wag
14 A′ MH3 as bend
15 A′′ MH3 as bend
16 A′ MH3 sym bend
17 A′ MC str
18 A′′ MH3 rock
19 A′ MH3 rock
20 A′ CdCdC bend
21 A′′ CdCdC bend
22 A′′ CH2 twist
23 A′ MCC bend
24 A′′ MH3 tors
The principal inertial axis dipole moment components of the sp
rotamer for allenylgermane and allenylstannane were calculated to
be µa ) 0.13/0.17 and 0.11/0.11, µb ) 0.25/0.27 and 0.14/0.16,
and µc ) 0.0 D (by symmetry), respectively, by the B3LYP/MP2
procedure. The comparatively small calculated dipole moment
components are consistent with the failure to observe a microwave
Ishida, M.; Nakajima, T.; Honda, Y.; Kitao, O.; Nakai, H.; Klene, M.; Li,
X.; Knox, J. E.; Hratchian, H. P.; Cross, J. B.; Adamo, C.; Jaramillo, J.;
Gomperts, R.; Stratmann, R. E.; Yazyev, O.; Austin, A. J.; Cammi, R.;
Pomelli, C.; Ochterski, J. W.; Ayala, P. Y.; Morokuma, K.; Voth, G. A.;
Salvador, P.; Dannenberg, J. J.; Zakrzewski, V. G.; Dapprich, S.; Daniels,
A. D.; Strain, M. C.; Farkas, O.; Malick, D. K.; Rabuck, A. D.;
Raghavachari, K.; Foresman, J. B.; Ortiz, J. V.; Cui, Q.; Baboul, A. G.;
Clifford, S.; Cioslowski, J.; Stefanov, B. B.; Liu, G.; Liashenko, A.; Piskorz,
P.; Komaromi, I.; Martin, R. L.; Fox, D. J.; Keith, T.; Al-Laham, M. A.;
Peng, C. Y.; Nanayakkara, A.; Challacombe, M.; Gill, P. M. W.; Johnson,
B.; Chen, W.; Wong, M. W.; Gonzalez, C.; Pople, J. A. Gaussian 03,
Revision B.03; Gaussian, Inc.: Pittsburgh, PA, 2003.
834
835
889
938
889
928
850
874
704
725
626
645
521
546
429
436
420
417
391
323
122
60
393
332
120
65
339
342
(42) Becke, A. D. J. Chem. Phys. 1993, 98, 5648.
(43) Lee, C.; Yang, W.; Parr, R. G. Phys. ReV. B 1988, 37, 785.
(44) Dunning, T. H., Jr. J. Chem. Phys. 1989, 90, 1007.
139
135
76
91
(45) Peterson, K. A. J. Chem. Phys. 2003, 119, 11099.
spectrum (see above), taking into consideration that the calculated
dipole moments are normally larger than their experimental
counterparts.
Structure Refinement. The quantum chemical calculations
above predict that the sp isomer with a symmetry plane (Cs
(46) Metz, B.; Stoll, H.; Dolg, M. J. Chem. Phys. 2000, 113, 2563.
(47) Helgaker, T.; Gauss, J.; Jørgensen, P.; Olsen, J. J. Chem. Phys. 1997,
106, 6430.
(48) Hehre, W. J.; Radom, L.; Schleyer, P. v. R. Ab Initio Molecular
Orbital Theory; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1986.

2094 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006
Table 4. Structure and u- and D-Values of Allenylgermanea
Strenalyuk et al.
rectilinearb
curvilinearb
c
c
parameter
ra
rg
uexp
ucalc
Dcalc
ra
rg
uexp
ucalc
Dcalc
Bond Lengths
Ge1-C2
C2dC3
C3dC4
194.2(5)
131.2(3)
131.6(3)
150.4(6)
150.9(6)
107.5(6)
107.2(6)
194.3
131.3
131.7
150.9
151.4
108.0
107.7
4.9(2)
4.1(2)
4.1(2)
11.7(5)
11.7(5)
7.6e
5.0
-0.30
-0.46
-0.89
-6.10
-7.00
-1.90
-2.20
194.2(5)
131.2(3)
131.6(3)
150.4(6)
150.9(6)
107.5(6)
107.2(6)
194.3
131.3
131.7
150.9
151.4
108.0
107.7
5.0(2)
4.1(2)
4.1(2)
11.7(5)
11.8(5)
7.6e
5.0
4.0
4.0
9.0
9.1
7.6
7.5
0.15
0.05
0.09
0.17
0.17
0.20
0.21
4.0
4.0
9.0
9.0
7.6
7.5
d
Ge1-H8
d
Ge1-H9
C2-H7
C4-H5
d
7.5e
7.5e
Bond Angles
Ge1C2C3
C2C3C4
C3C4H5
120.7(3)
178.3(8)
124.7
120.3(3)
173.1(7)
124.8
d
C3C2H7
C2Ge1H8
C2Ge1H9
H8Ge1H9
122.8(13)
108.7(21)
109.3
122.9(13)
108.3(21)
108.8
d
d
109.8
109.3
H9Ge1H10
109.6
112.5
Dihedral Angles
C3C2Ge1H8
C3C2Ge1H9
C2C3C4H6
0.0e
119.5
90.2e
8.0
0.0e
118.1
90.2e
8.0
f
Rf%
a Distances and u-and D-values in pm, angles and dihedral angles in deg. Parenthesized values are estimated error limits given as 2.5(σ2lsq + (0.001r)2)1/2
for bond distances, where σlsq is one standard deviation obtained from the least-squares refinements using a diagonal weight matrix and the second term
represents 0.1% uncertainty in the electron wavelength. For angles and u-values the estimated error limits are 2.5σlsq. The error estimates are in units of the
last digits. b See text. c The rg-values listed in this table were calculated from rg ) ra + ucalc2/ra. d These parameters were calculated according to the constraints
discussed in the text. eFixed. f Goodness of fit: R ) [∑sw(I obs - Iscalc)2]/[∑sw(I obs)2], where w is a weight function usually equal to 1, and I is the molecular
s
s
modified intensity.
symmetry) is the only stable form of this compound. Seventeen
independent parameters were chosen to describe its molecular
structure. These parameters are the bond distances r(M1C2), r(C2C3),
r(C3C4), r(C4H5) ) r(C4H5), r(C2H7), r(M1H8) and r(M1H9) )
r(M1H10) and the bond angles M1C2C3, C2C3C4, C3C4H5 )
internal rotation. Fixing this dihedral angle at 0.0° did not influence
the values of the other structural parameters.
The root-mean-square vibrational amplitudes (u-values) and
shrinkage correction terms (D-values) were calculated employing
the SHRINK program49,50 using the B3LYP//cc-pVTZ-PP(Sn)/cc-
pVTZ(C,H) force field for allenylstannane and the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ
force field for allenylgermane. The SHRINK program calculates
these parameters using two different approaches. The first approach
is based on a rectilinear movement of the atoms, which most
programs are based on. The second is based on a curvilinear
movement of the atoms. The latter approach is generally considered
to be best. An appropriate warning should be given here for those
using the SHRINK program on molecules having close to linear
groups. Great care should be taken and several models should be
tested. There exist two auxiliary programs that automatically
generate an input in the SHRINK program. Both fail to generate a
correct input; however one of them gives an explicit warning if
linear groups are present. We have tested three models. In one
model the proper dummy atoms have been introduced but the Cd
CdC group is slightly bent. This model is recommended by
Sipachev, and the results are given in Tables 4 and 5. In a second
model the CdCdC group was made linear by changing the
Cartesian coordinates of the middle C atom, and in a third model
a force field was obtained forcing the CdCdC group to be linear.
The rectilinear approach gives essentially the same parameters for
all three models, while the curvilinear approach gives rather
different values for the D-values far more different than expected.
According to Sipachev, this can be traced back to the perturbation
treatment used in the program to calculate the D-values.
C3C4H6, C3C2H7, C2M1H8, C2M1H9
)
C2M1H10, and
H8M1H9 H8M1H10. In addition, the two dihedral angles
)
M1C2C3C4 and M1C2C4H5 and the dihedral angle H8M1C2C3
were used in order to test whether the rotational barrier of the MH3
group could be determined by electron diffraction.
It is difficult to determine accurate structure parameters by ED
where H atoms are involved owing to the low scattering power of
the hydrogen atoms. It is also difficult to determine accurately the
difference between bond lengths if the bond type and bond lengths
are similar. This is the reason for introducing the following
constraints: r(C3C4) ) r(C2C3) + ∆1, where ∆1 is the difference
between r(C3C4) and r(C2C3). Similarly, r(M1H9) ) r(M1H10) )
r(M1H8) + ∆2, r(C4H5) ) r(C4H6) ) r(C2H7) + ∆3, C2M1H9 )
C2M1H10
)
C2M1H8 + ∆4, H8M1H9
)
H8M1H10 )
C2M1H8 + ∆5, and C3C4H5 ) C3C4H6 ) C3C4H7 + ∆6.
The differences, ∆1-6, were taken from the quantum chemical
calculation B3LYP//cc-pVTZ-PP(Sn)/cc-pVTZ(C,H) for allenyl-
stannane, and they are 0.82, 0.60, and -0.22 pm and 1.15°, 2.17°,
and 1.04°, respectively. The differences ∆1-6 for allenylgermane
were taken from the quantum chemical calculation B3LYP//cc-
pVTZ, and they are 0.40, 0.50, and -0.30 pm and 0.63°, 0.90°,
and 1.90°, respectively. As can be seen, the trend in the calculated
differences is very similar for the two compounds.
It was explored if the barrier to internal rotation of the MH3
group could be determined. The C3C2M1H8 dihedral angle was
refined for this purpose. As expected, the uncertainty in the dihedral
angle was very large. For allenylgermane the dihedral angle refined
to 23(19)° and the R-factor did not change compared to when the
dihedral angle was fixed to 0°. For allenylstannane it was even
worse; the dihedral angle refined to 17(65)°. This shows that
introduction of a dynamic model does not serve any purpose.
Clearly, the scattering from C3,C4‚‚‚HM pairs of atoms is not
sufficient to obtain any useful information about the barrier to
Vibrational amplitudes for distances with small contributions to
the total molecular scattering were kept at their calculated values,
while some u-values were refined in groups, and the final results
are shown in Tables 4 and 5. The KCED25 least-squares fitting
program51 was used. The intensity and radial distribution curves
(49) Sipachev, V. A. J. Mol. Struct. (THEOCHEM) 1985, 22, 143.
(50) Sipachev, V. A. J. Mol. Struct. 2001, 567-568, 67.

Structures of Allenylgermane and Allenylstannane
Table 5. Structure and u- and D-Values of Allenylstannanea
rectilinearb
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006 2095
curvilinearb
c
c
parameter
ra
rg
uexp
ucalc
Dcalc
ra
rg
uexp
ucalc
Dcalc
Bond Lengths
-0.52
Sn1-C2
C2dC3
C3dC4
213.2(7)
130.7(4)
131.5(4)
172.8(10)
173.4(10)
108.4(13)
108.2(13)
213.3
130.9
131.7
173.3
173.9
108.9
108.7
5.8(10)
4.9(5)
4.9(5)
9.0(11)
9.1(11)
7.6e
5.5
4.0
4.0
9.4
9.5
7.6
7.6
213.3(7)
130.7(4)
131.6(4)
172.8(10)
173.4(10)
108.5(13)
108.2(13)
213.4
130.9
131.8
173.3
173.9
109.0
108.7
5.8(10)
4.9(5)
4.9(5)
9.0(11)
9.0(11)
7.6e
5.5
4.0
4.0
9.4
9.5
7.6
7.6
0.18
0.04
0.10
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.21
-0.80
d
-1.28
Sn1-H8
-14.73
-16.57
-2.84
d
Sn1-H9
C2-H7
C4-H5
d
7.6e
-3.00
7.6e
Bond Angles
Sn1C2C3
C2C3C4
C3C4H5
121.0(7)
177.4(18)
123.5
119.9(7)
168.2(14)
122.5
d
C3C2H7
C2Sn1H8
C2Sn1H9
H8Sn1H9
122.5(25)
121.5(30)
108.3e
108.3e
d
109.4
110.5
109.4
110.5
d
H9Sn1H10
108.7
108.7
Dihedral Angles
C3C2Sn1H8
C3C2Sn1H9
C2C3C4H6
0.0e
120.5
90.3e
17.6
0.0e
120.5
90.3e
17.8
f
Rf,%
a Distances and u-and D-values in pm, angles and dihedral angles in deg. Parenthesized values are estimated error limits given as 2.5(σ2lsq + (0.001r)2)1/2
for bond distances, where σlsq is one standard deviation obtained from the least-squares refinements using a diagonal weight matrix and the second term
represents 0.1% uncertainty in the electron wavelength. For angles and u-values the estimated error limits are 2.5σlsq. The error estimates are in units of the
last digits. b See text. c The rg-values listed in this table were calculated from rg ) ra + ucalc2/ra. d These parameters were calculated according to the constraints
discussed in the text. eFixed. f Goodness of fit: R ) [∑sw(I obs - Iscalc)2]/[∑sw(I obs)2], where w is a weight function usually equal to 1, and I is the molecular
s
s
modified intensity.
Table 6. M-C Bond Length in Some Germane and
Stannane Compounds
Ge
Sn
exp
calca
exp
calcb
H3M-CtC-H
H3M-CHdCH2
H3M-CHdCdCH2
H3M-CH3
189.6(1)14
192.6(12)19
194.2(5)
188.9
192.5
193.0
193.9
209.6(17)c,24
215.1(1)29
213.2(7)
207.3
211.2
211.7
212.7
194.53(5)15
214.0(1)25
a MP2(FC)/cc-pVTZ. b MP2(FC)/ cc-pVTZ for C and H and cc-pVTZ-
PP for Sn. c (CH3)3Sn-CtC-H.
anharmonicity parameter, which can be calculated employing
the SHRINK program49,50 as described by Sipachev.54 The
centrifugal stretching, δr, is usually very small and can be
neglected. Using a ) 0.0162 pm-1, the experimental equilibrium
distance, re, for C-Sn is estimated to be 212.7(7) pm-1, just
between the B3LYP (215.3 pm) and MP2 (211.7 pm) calcula-
tions. The same tendency was found for vinylstannane. Using
a ) 0.0175 pm-1 gives an experimental re of 193.7(5) for
C-Ge.
Figure 5. Radial distribution (upper) and difference (lower) curves
for allenylstannane.
Recently, the first C(sp2)-Sn(IV) bond length for a free
molecule has been determined for vinylstannane,29 and its ra-
value is 215.1(6) pm. Comparison with the corresponding value
of 213.2(7) pm in allenylstannane should therefore be of interest.
A shortening is expected if there is a conjugation through the
allenyl fragment. However, this expected shortening is not
predicted in the ab initio MP2 calculations, where actually a
lengthening of 0.4 pm is predicted using the same basis set. In
Table 6, the experimental and theoretical M-C bond lengths
for some selected germane and stannane compounds are given.
As can be seen (Table 6), the calculated Ge-C bond length is
predicted to increase by 0.5 pm from vinylgermane to alle-
nylgermane, and this increase is actually supported by experi-
mental values. Further, it seems that the Sn-C bond length in
are shown in Figures 2 and 3 for allenylgermane and in Figures 4
and 5 for allenylstannane.
Results and Discussion
The equilibrium bond length, re, was estimated52,53 using re
≈ ra + u2/ra - δr - K - 1.5au2, where u is the root-mean-
square vibrational amplitude, δr the centrifugal stretching, K is
the perpendicular correction coefficients, and a the Morse
(51) Gundersen, G.; Samdal, S.; Seip, H.-M.; Strand, T. G. Annual Report
1977, 1980, 1981 from the Norwegian Gas Electron Diffraction Group.
(52) Hargittai, I., Hargittai, M., Eds. Stereochemical Applications of Gas-
Phase Electron Diffraction, Pt. A: The Electron Diffraction Technique. In
Methods Stereochem. Anal. 1988, 10, 1988.
(53) Sim, G. A., Sutton, L. E., Eds. Specialist Periodical Reports:
Molecular Structure by Diffraction Methods; 1973; Vol. 1.
(54) Sipachev, V. A. Struct. Chem. 2000, 11, 167.

2096 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 8, 2006
Strenalyuk et al.
vinylstannane is unusually long compared to the other Sn-C
bond lengths, and at the moment we do not have a good
explanation of this finding.
molecule. It seems that the curvilinear approach, in this case,
overestimates the shrinkage correction. High-level ab initio
calculations on allenylphosphine30 give a CdCdC bond angle
of 178.6°. It is interesting to notice that the calculated CdCd
C bending in allenylphosphine of 178.6° is the same for both
the syn and gauche conformation independent of the orientation
of the electron lone pair on the P atom. Moreover, in progar-
gylgermane22 the C-CtC bond angle is bent toward the metal
atom, where the experimental value is 178.3(10)° compared to
the ab initio result of 177.3°.
As mentioned in the previous section, some problems were
encountered using the SHRINK program. We have tested55 the
rectilinear and curvilinear approaches before, and so far we have
always obtained the same structure parameters within the error
limits and the same fit to the experimental data. This is the
first time where we have obtained significantly different
structure parameters, i.e., the CdCdC angle. The rectilinear
approach gives the same results for all three models and Cd
CdC bond angles of 178.3(8)° and 177.4(18)° for allenylger-
mane and allenylstannane, which should be compared to the
ab initio values of 178.5/178.1° and 178.1/177.8° (B3LYP/
MP2). The curvilinear approach gives CdCdC bond angles of
173.1(7)° and 168.2(14)°. Due to the excellent agreement with
the high-level ab initio calculations and that the rectilinear
approach gives the same results for the three models tested, we
choose to select the rectilinear approach to be the best for this
Acknowledgment. J.-C.G. thanks the PCMI (INSU-CNRS)
for financial support. T.S. thanks the International Student Quota
Program of the University of Oslo for financial support. A grant
from the French-Norwegian Aurora Exchange Program to J.-
C.G. and H.M. is gratefully acknowledged. H. V. Volden is
acknowledged for recording the electron diffraction data and
S. Gundersen for workup of the experimental data. The Research
Council of Norway (Programme for Supercomputing) is thanked
for a grant of computer time.
(55) Gundersen, S.; Novikov, V. P.; Samdal, S.; Seip, R.; Shorokhov,
D. J.; Sipachev, V. A. J. Mol. Struct. 1999, 485-486, 97.
OM060056N