Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups
Published on: February 11, 2012
[Ph(2)Bi-(Ge(9))-BiPh(2)](2-): a deltahedral Zintl ion functionalized by exo-bonded ligands
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Abstract:
The title anion was synthesized by a reaction of nido-Ge(9)(4-), made from K(4)Ge(9) dissolved in ethylenediamine and 2,2,2-crypt(4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane), with BiPh(3). It was structurally characterized in (K-2,2,2-crypt)(2)[Ge(9)(BiPh(2))(2)].en which was crystallized from the solution. The anion is a monocapped square antiprism of Ge(9) with two diphenylbismuth ligands exo-bonded to opposite vertexes of the open face of the cluster. This is the first example where covalently exo-bonded ligands are attached to a deltahedral cluster that can exist without them as well.
Related Concept Videos
VSEPR Theory and the Basic Shapes
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II
Coordination Number and Geometry
Valence Bond Theory

