Metalloid Ge₉R₃^– Clusters with Various Silyl Substituents: From Shielded to Open Cluster Cores

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of the metalloid germanium clusters {Ge 9 [Si(SiMe 3 ) 2 (SiPh 3 )] 2 } 2– ( 1 ), {Ge 9 [Si(SiMe 3 ) 3 ][Si(SiMe 3 ) 2 (SiPh 3 )] 2 } – ( 2 ), {Ge 9 [Si(SiMe 3 ) 2 (Si i Pr 3 )] 3 } – ( 3 ), and [Ge 9 (SiH t Bu 2 ) 3 ] – ( 4 ), which were obtained by the reaction of the Zintl anion Ge 9 4– with different silyl halides, are presented. Compound 4 is the sterically least protected soluble Ge 9 R 3 – cluster known to date, and thus has interesting structural features and may open the way to new coordination modes of metalloid Ge 9 R 3 – clusters.