NHC-induced conversion of a W-Ge double bond into the triple bond through formation of W-Ge single and double bonded intermediates

Treatment of a germylene complex having a (H)W=Ge(H) moiety with 1 equiv of NHC gave a germylyne complex having a W≡Ge bond through stepwise proton and hydride transfer to NHC giving H2-NHC. Two kinds of intermediate complexes corresponding to (H)W=Ge(H)(NHC+) (zwitterionic) and W-=Ge(H) (anionic) systems were isolated and fully characterized.184