Synthesis and solid state structures of tri-t-butyl-cyclopropenyl derivatives of main group elements: Cyp*MPh3 (MÂ =Â Si, Ge, Sn)

The reaction of Ph3MLi (M = Si, Ge, and Sn) with tri-t-butylcyclopropenium tetrafluoroborate (Cyp∗BF4-) gives the cyclopropenyl compounds Cyp∗MPh3 as air and moisture stable solids. The X-ray crystal structures of all three of these compounds were obtained. The M-C(Cyp∗) bond distances increase with the order: Sn-C (2.19 Å) > Ge-C (2.00 Å) > Si-C (1.91 Å).