σ or π? Bonding interactions in a series of rhenium metallotetrylenes

Salt metathesis reactions between a low-valent rhenium( i ) complex, Na[Re(η 5 -Cp)(BDI)] (BDI = N , N ′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-β-diketiminate), and a series of amidinate-supported tetrylenes of the form ECl[PhC(N t Bu) 2 ] (E = Si, Ge, Sn) led to rhenium metallotetrylenes Re(E[PhC(N t Bu) 2 ])(η 5 -Cp)(BDI) (E = Si ( 1a ), Ge ( 2 ), Sn ( 4 )) with varying extents of Re-E multiple bonding. Whereas the rhenium-stannylene 4 adopts a σ-metallotetrylene arrangement featuring a Re-E single bond, the rhenium-silylene ( 1a ) and -germylene ( 2 ) both engage in π-interactions to form short Re-E multiple bonds. Temperature was found to play a crucial role in reactions between Na[Re(η 5 -Cp)(BDI)] and SiCl[PhC(N t Bu) 2 ], as manipulation of reaction conditions led to isolation of an unusual rhenium-silane, (BDI)Re(μ-η 5 :η 1 -C 5 H 4 )(SiH[PhC(N t Bu) 2 ]) ( 1b ) and a dinitrogen bridged rhenium-silylene, (η 5 -Cp)(BDI)Re(μ-N 2 )Si[PhC(N t Bu) 2 ] ( 1c ), in addition to 1a . Finally, the reaction of Na[Re(η 5 -Cp)(BDI)] with GeCl 2 ·dioxane led to a rare μ 2 -tetrelido complex, μ 2 -Ge[Re(η 5 -Cp)(BDI)] 2 ( 3 ). Bonding interactions within these complexes are discussed through the lens of various spectroscopic, structural, and computational investigations. Salt metathesis reactions between a low-valent rhenium( i ) complex and a series of amidinate-supported tetrylenes led to rhenium metallotetrylenes with varying extents of Re-E multiple bonding.