Synthesis of Metal Substituted Carbodiimides

In the reaction of the lead salt of cyanamide 1 with gaseous H3GeI, the corresponding carbodiimide 2 is obtained in 84 % yield.  

The reaction of bis(triethylgermyl)oxide 3 with cyanamide affords bis(triethylgermyl)- 

Triethylgermyl chloride reacts with the lithium salt of cyanamide to give 4, bp 162°C/17 Torr, in 63 % yield. Similarly, trimesylgermyl chloride reacts with cyanamide to form 

Mes3GeN=0=NGeMes3, mp 237-238 °C, in 75% yield. Also, trietliylgermyl-N,N-diethylamine reacts with dicyandiamide 5 to give a 83 % yield of 4  

Cyclic oligomers of dimesylgennylcarbodiimide, (Mes2GeNCN) , where n = 3 and 4 are synthesized from dimesylchlorogermanium with silver cyanamide in the presence of tri-ethylamine or using lithium cyanamide.  

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