Boradigermaallyl: inhibition of CH bond activation by borane CO adduct formation followed by CO insertion

Boradigermaallyl, valence-isoelectronic to an allyl cation, stabilized by Ge-bound C₆H₃-2,6-(Trip)₂ (Trip = 2,4,6-C₆H₂iPr₃) groups shows triple insertion of ethylene into the Ge-B bonds (2) or an addition of styrene at the Ge atoms (3) followed by CH addition of a Trip methyl group at a GeB unit. Phenylacetylene forms two addition products (4, 5) with the GeB unit or both Ge atoms, which are also followed by a CH insertion of a methyl group. Under CO atmosphere the CH addition was prevented in the case of the phenylacetylene addition, and a CO adduct of this cycloaddition product (6) was characterized. Subsequently this CO adduct exhibits a CO insertion into the B-C bond and an α,β-unsaturated acylboron compound (7) was characterized. In the case of the anthracene addition to boradigermaallyl the observed CH addition was also suppressed by CO adduct formation (8). Biphenylene reacts with boradigermaallyl at room temperature under insertion of a boron atom into a phenyl moiety (9).