The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction of forming a silicic bis-heterocyclic compound between singlet dimethylmethylenesilylene (Me2C=Si:) and ethene has been investigated with the CCSD(T)//MP2/6-31G* method. From the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that, this reaction has one dominant channel. The presented rule of this dominant channel: the 3p unoccupied orbital of Si in dimethylmethylenesilylene and the π orbital of ethene forming the π→p donor-acceptor bond, resulting in the formation of three-membered ring intermediate (INT1); INT1 then isomerizes to a four-membered ring silylene (P2), which is driven by ring-enlargement effect; due to sp3 hybridization of Si atom in P2, P2 further combines with ethene to form a silicic bis-heterocyclic compound.
The mechanism of the oxide extraction reaction between singlet germylene carbene and its derivatives X2Ge=C: (X=H, F, Cl, CH3) and ethylene oxide has been investigated with B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method. The results show that this kind of reaction has similar mechanism, the shift of 2p lone electron pair of O in ethylene oxide to the 2p unoccupied orbital of C in X2Ge=C: gives a p→p donor-acceptor bond, thereby leading to the formation of intermediate. As the p→p donor-acceptor bond continues to strengthen, that is the C-O bond continues to shorten, the intermediate generates product (P+C2H4) via transition state. It is the substituent electronegativity that mainly affect the extraction reactions. When the substituent electronegativity is greater, the energy barrier is lower, and the reaction rate is greater.
The H2Ge=Ge:, as well as and its derivatives (X2Ge=Ge:, X=H, Me, F, C1, Br, Ph, At, ...) is a kind of new species. Its cycloaddition reactions is a new area for the study of germylene chemistry. The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet Me2Ge=Ge: and acetaldehyde was investigated with the B3LYP/6-31G* method in this work. From the potential energy profile, it could be predicted that the reaction has one dominant reaction pathway. The reaction rule is that the two reactants firstly form a four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring germylene through the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. Because of the 4p unoccupied orbital of Ge: atom in the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring germylene and the ~ orbital of acetaldehyde forming a r^--~p donor-acceptor bond, the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring germylene further combines with acetaldehyde to form an intermedi- ate. Because the Ge atom in intermediate happens sp3 hybridization after transition state, then, intermediate isomerizes to a spiro-Ge-heterocyclic ring compound via a transition state. The research result indicates the laws of cycloaddition reaction between Me2Ge=Ge: and ac- etaldehyde, and lays the theory foundation of the cycloaddition reaction between H2Ge=Ge: and its derivatives (X2Ge=Ge:, X=H, Me, F, C1, Br, Ph, At, ...) and asymmetric ^-bonded compounds, which are significant for the synthesis of small-ring and spiro-Ge-heterocyclic ring compounds.