New stable germylenes, stannylenes, and related compounds. 8. Amidogermanium(II) and ‐tin(II) chlorides R 2 N‐E 14 ‐Cl (E 14 = Ge, R = Et; E 14 = Sn, R = Me) revealing new structural motifs

New stable amidogermanium(II) and ‐tin(II) chlorides R 2 NE 14 Cl [E 14 = Ge, R = Et ( 1 ), E 14 = Sn, R = Me ( 2 )] have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Both 1 and 2 are dimers formed via the two intermolecular E 14 ← N dative interactions, with the bridged amido ligands and the terminal chloro ligands. The central E 14 2 N 2 four‐membered ring has a butterfly conformation in the germanium derivative 1 and a planar conformation in the tin derivative 2 . The chloride atoms are disposed in the trans ‐configuration relative to the four‐membered ring. Both structures 1 and 2 reveal new previously unobserved structural motifs for amidogermanium(II) and ‐tin(II) chlorides, respectively. The electronic structures of 1 and 2 were studied by quantum chemistry within the DFT approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.