Synthesis of triscyclopentadienyl(triphenylgermyl)uranium and facile isonitrile insertion into the uranium-germanium bond

The uranium-germanium bonded complex (cp)3UGePh3 (1) (cp = ?5-C5H5) has been prepared from (cp)3UCl and KGePh3 and fully characterized; it reacts readily with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide [(Xyl)NC] to give the carbamoyl insertion product (cp)3U[C(GePh3)=N(Xyl)] (2), the dynamic 1H n.m.r. behaviour of which is described.