Optical Stability of Organometallic Compounds With a Tin-Germanium Bond^†

(Dimethylphenylstannyl)methyl-1-naphthyl-phenylgermanium (I) and methylneophylphenyl (triphenylgermyl)tin (II) are configurationally stable even in the presence of strong nucleophiles. Optically active isopropylmethylphenyl (triphenylgermyl)tin (III) has been synthesized by asymmetric induction and shows that hexaorganodimetal compounds with a tin-germanium bond are optically stable.

The synthesis of functionally substituted organometallic compounds with a Sn-Ge bond, like 5-[(phenyldimethylstannyl) diphenylgermyl]-2-pentanone (VI), is described. An attempted resolution of a cyclohexylmethylphenyl (triorganogermyl)tin compound is also given.