ORGANOGERMANIUM COMPOUNDS: PART I. THE INTERACTION OF HEXAMETHYLDIGERMOXANE AND TRIMETHYLMETHOXYGERMANE WITH BORON TRIFLUORIDE

Abstract

Boron trifiuoride does not form a stable adduct with hexamethyldigermoxane. Instead, cleavage of the Ge—O—Ge linkage occurs with quantitative formation of trimethylfluorogermane and boron trioxide. Trimethylmethoxygermane and boron trifiuoride form a 1:1 addition compound which sublimes without decomposition. Dative d π –p π bonding, if present in the Ge—O linkage of trimethylmethoxygermane, does not appear to affect appreciably the electron-donor activity of the oxygen atom toward boron trifiuoride. The preparation and some properties of CH 3 GeH 2 Br, CH 3 GeHCl 2 , (CH 3 ) 3 GeCl, (CH 3 ) 3 GeF, [(CH 3 ) 3 Ge] 2 O, and (CH 3 ) 3 GeOCH 3 are described.