F₃Ge−Xe⁺: A Xenon−Germanium Molecular Species

Abstract

Searching for novel compounds of the noble gases still remains a fascinating experimental and theoretical challenge. The trifluorogermylxenon cation F3Ge−Xe+, a stable xenon−germanium molecular species, is obtained in the gas phase by the nucleophilic displacement of HF from protonated GeF4 by Xe. The alternative isomers F2Ge−Xe−F+ and FGe−F−Xe-F+, theoretically less stable than F3Ge−Xe+ by ca. 80−90 kcal mol−1, are not attainable under the employed ion trap mass spectrometric conditions. The observation of F3Ge−Xe+ enlarges the evidence concerning the conceivable binding partners of xenon.