Reversible addition of terminal alkenes to digermynes

Stable digermynes with sterically demanding Bbt (Bbt = 2,6-[CH(SiMe ) ] -4-[C(SiMe ) ]-C H ) or Tbb (Tbb = 4-tBu-2,6-[CH(SiMe ) ] -C H ) groups underwent [2+2] cycloadditions with terminal alkenes to give the corresponding 1,2-digermacyclobutenes. In the case of the Bbt-substituted digermyne, the reaction was reversible at room temperature, i.e., the 1,2-digermacyclobutene (Ge(ii) species) is susceptible to a facile reductive elimination that affords the corresponding digermyne (Ge(i) species) and the alkene.