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Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups
Published on: February 11, 2012
A tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate-supported germanium(IV) Lewis acid
Jerin Joseph1, Archana P V1, Alex P Andrews1
1School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram 695551, India. venugopal@iisertvm.ac.in.
Abstract:
The synthesis of a germanium(IV) Lewis acid bearing tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate (TpMe2) and its ability to promote phosphine oxide reduction is presented. A reaction between GeCl4 and KTpMe2 resulted in TpMe2GeCl3, which upon treatment with AgOSO2CF3 yielded TpMe2Ge(OSO2CF3)3. Despite possessing similar Lewis acidity compared to the previously reported Sn(IV) analogue, TpMe2Ge(OSO2CF3)3 exhibits higher efficiency in promoting the reduction of phosphine oxides to the corresponding phosphines using phenylsilane as the reductant.
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