Synthesis of Ge[N(SiMe 2 Ph) 2 ] 2 and crystal structures of the benzil adducts Ph 2 C 2 O 2 Ge[N(SiMe 2 Ph) 2 ] 2 and Ph 2 C 2 O 2 Ge[N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2

The new germylene [(PhMe₂Si)₂N]₂Ge has been prepared and fully characterized, and the oxidative addition of [(PhMe₂Si)₂N]₂Ge and [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂Ge with the well-known germylene trapping reagent benzil (1,2-phenylethane-1,2-dione) has been carried out. The crystal structures of the resulting germanium(IV) benzil adducts Ph₂C₂O₂Ge[N(SiMe₂Ph)₂]₂ and Ph₂C₂O₂Ge[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ were obtained. The two adducts are essentially isostructural and both exhibit a pseudo-tetrahedral environment at the germanium atom and a nearly planar environment at the nitrogen atoms of the bis(silyl)amido-ligands.