Abstract

Poly(metalpolycarbodiimides) were obtained from cyanamide or dilithium cyanamide and di-, tri- or tetra-chlorogermanes by dehydrochlorination, transmetallation or exchange GeCl/GeN reactions. The preparation was extended to mesityldichlorostibane. Metal polyhalides develop a high tendency to generate poly(metalcarbodiimide) cryptands in spite of the linear molecular shape of the carbodiimide links. In these oligomeric structures, the reactivity of the metal nitrogen bond towards protic reagents is preserved and allows the confirmation of their structure by chemical investigations. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.