Synthesis and characterization of pristine closo-[Ge₁₀]²⁻

Abstract

The first [Ge10](2-) Zintl anion, which is neither filled nor connected to another metal atom is presented in terms of X-ray structure, Raman-spectrum and ESI-MS. Pure [Ge10](2-), adapting a D4d symmetric closo-structure, were crystallized from a Rb4Ge9/ethylendiamine solution, containing 7-amino-1-trimethylsilyl-5-aza-hepta-3-en-1-yne. The role of the latter on the formation of [Rb(222-crypt)]2[Ge10](en)1.5 is discussed.