Reactions of triethylmetal(IV) chlorides with sodium salts of internally functionalised oximes in a 1:1 molar ratio in refluxing anhydrous benzene yield [Et3M{ON=C(R)Ar}] [where R = H, Me; M = Ge (1–5), Sn (6,7) or Pb (8–12); Ar = 2-C5H4N, 2-C4H3O or 2-C4H3S]. All these derivatives have been characterised by elemental analysis and IR and NMR [1H, 13C{1H}, 119Sn{1H} and 207Pb{1H}] spectroscopic studies. Absence of any significant shift in the hetero-aryl ring carbon / proton resonances and the presence of chemical shifts at ∼δ110 ppm in 119Sn NMR and at ∼ δ 400 ppm in 207Pb NMR spectra of these derivatives have been interpreted in terms of a tetrahedral geometry around the metal atom.
