Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025

Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups
Published on: February 11, 2012
Terphenyl-Ge as μ2-Ge-bis(hexahapto-Trip) Bridging Ligand to Form a New Transition Metal-Only Chelating Lewis Base
Johanna Manegold1, Adrian Ebisch1, Klaus Eichele1
1Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Terphenylgermanium Ar*Ge [Ar*=C6H3(2,6-Trip)2, Trip=2,4,6-C6H2iPr3] was found to act as a novel μ2-Ge-bis(hexahapto-Trip) bridging ligand. Deprotonated terphenyl germanium trihydride [Li(thf)3][Ar*GeH2] (1) undergoes reductive elimination and transfer of hydrogen in reaction with dimeric [(COD)RhCl]2 to yield the dinuclear complex [Ar*GeRh(COE)RhCl(COD)] (2). Subsequent chloride abstraction from compound 2 using Na[BArF 4] or Li[Al(OtBuF)4] results in the cationic complexes [Ar*GeRh(COE)Rh(COD)][WCA] (3) {WCA: [BArF 4]- (ArF=C6H3-3,5-(CF3)2), [Al(OtBuF)4]-}. Ligand exchange of olefin for CO yields the carbonyl complex [Ar*Ge(Rh(CO))2][BArF 4] (4). In an alternative approach to the synthesis of carbonyl complex 4, [Li(thf)3][Ar*GeH2] (1) was treated with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 leading to the isolation of a hexanuclear rhodium cluster [(μ3-Ar*Ge)2{Rh(CO)2}6(μ3-H)2] (5) in reasonable yield. In reactions with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 or [Ph3PAuCl] complex 4 abstracts the chloride ligand and forms tetranuclear complexes featuring a GeRh3- or GeRh2Au-rectangle, [Ar*GeCl(Rh3(CO)4)][BArF 4] (6), or [Ar*GeCl{Rh2(CO)2}(AuPPh3)][BArF 4] (7).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
VSEPR Theory and the Effect of Lone Pairs
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Valence Bond Theory
Coordination Number and Geometry

