Two Quasi-Stable Lead(II) Hydrides at Ambient Temperature

Simple reactions of their terphenyl lead bromide precursors with DIBAL-H in diethyl ether solution at ca. -78°C leads to the isolation of the hydrides {Pb(μ-H)ArPri4}2 (ArPri4 = C6H3-2,6 (C6H3-2,6-Pri2)2) (1) and {Pb(μ-H)ArMe6}2 (Ar Me6 = C6H3-2,6(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2) (2) in good yield(60-80%). The isolated solids are stable at up to 5°C for several weeks but are thermally labile in solution. Hydride 1 decomposes to the diplumbyne ArPri4PbPbArPri4, while 2 decomposes to the plumbylene Pb(ArMe6)2. The decomposition of 1 was determined to be zero order with a rate constant of ca. 2.0×10-5 M min-1 at 298K..