Donor-acceptor molecular oligogermanes: Novel properties and structural aspects

Structural Motifs in Aryl Organogermanium Ge-O Derivatives for Material Design

The aim of this work was to understand the main structural features and ways of formation of Ge-O bonds in organogermanium compounds under the conditions of ArnGeHal4-n (Hal = halide) hydrolysis. The structural types of these compounds were considered, providing 11 blocks (A-K). The molecular structures of the novel compounds [(p-FC6H4)3Ge]2O (1), [(p-F3CC6H4)3Ge]2O (2), and cyclo-[(p-F3CC6H4)2GeO]4 (3) were studied through XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis. The molecular structure of [(p-F3CC6H4)3GeO]4Ge (4), representing a novel structural type, was also investigated. The data presented in this study will be important in the design of materials with useful properties based on group 14 element derivatives with element-oxygen bonding.

Oligoorganogermanes: Interplay between Aryl and Trimethylsilyl Substituents

Derivatives of main group elements containing element-element bonds are characterized by unique properties due to σ-conjugation, which is an attractive subject for investigation. A novel series of digermanes, Ar₃Ge-Ge(SiMe₃)₃, containing aryl (Ar = p-C₆H₄Me (1), p-C₆H₄F (2), C₆F₅ (3)) and trimethylsilyl substituents, was synthesized by the reaction of germyl potassium salt, [(Me₃Si)₃GeK*THF], with triarylchlorogermanes, Ar₃GeCl. The optical and electronic properties of such substituted oligoorganogermanes were investigated spectroscopically by UV/vis absorption spectroscopy and theoretically by DFT calculations. The molecular structures of compounds 1 and 2 were studied by XRD analysis. Conjugation between all structural fragments (Ge-Ge, Ge-Si, Ge-Ar, where Ar is an electron-donating or withdrawing group) was found to affect the properties.

Hypercoordinated Oligosilanes Based on Aminotrisphenols

The hypercoordinated silicon chlorides ClSi[(o-OC₆H₄)₃N] (3) and ClSi[(OC₆H₂Me₂CH₂)₃N] (5) were used for the synthesis of catenated derivatives (Me₃Si)₃SiSi[(o-OC₆H₄)₃N] (9), (Me₃Si)₃SiSiMe₂SiMe₂Si(SiMe₃)₂Si[(o-OC₆H₄)₃N] (11), and (Me₃Si)₃SiSi[(OC₆H₂Me₂CH₂)₃N] (13) in reactions with (Me₃Si)₃SiK·THF (7) or (Me₃Si)₃SiK·[18-crown-6] (8). It was found that the nature of the (Me₃Si)₃SiK solvate determines the product of interaction, resulting in the formation of (Me₃Si)₃Si(CH₂)₄OSi[(OC₆H₂Me₂CH₂)₃N] (12) or 13. Compounds obtained were characterized using multinuclear NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of 3, 9, and 11-13 were investigated by single-crystal X-ray analysis, featuring hypercoordinated Si atoms in a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination environment with O atoms in the equatorial plane. The structure of the side product [N(CH₂C₆H₂Me₂O)₃Si]₂O (6) was also studied, indicating highly tetrahedrally distorted trigonal-bipyramidal environment at the Si atoms, which was confirmed by crystal density functional theory calculations indicating the very weak Si ← N interaction. The Si···N interatomic distances span a broad range (2.23-2.78 Å). The dependence of structural and NMR parameters for hypercoordinated catenated compounds from the type of the ligand was established.

Oligothienyl catenated germanes and silanes: synthesis, structure, and properties

The synthesis of two new groups of oligothienyl catenated silanes and germanes, Me5M2Thn (1a-b), Me5M2ThnM2Me5 (2a-c) (terminal), and ThnM2Me4Thn (3a-d) (internal) (M = Si, Ge; n = 2, 3; Th = 2- or 2,5-thienyl), is reported. The study of their structural parameters as well as of their spectral (NMR), electrochemical (CV) and optical (UV/vis absorbance, luminescence) properties has been performed in detail; in addition, the unexpected compound [Th2Si2Me4Th]2 (3a') is also studied. Theoretical investigations have been performed for model compounds in order to establish structure-property relationships. The molecular structures of 2a (Me5Si2Th2Si2Me5), 2b (Me5Ge2Th2Ge2Me5), 3a (Th2Si2Me4Th2) and 3b (Th2Ge2Me4Th2) have been investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. An effective conjugation with flattening of both Th planes in terminal 2a and 2b was observed. The main trends in the dependence of the optical and electrochemical properties on the structural parameters have been established. All of the compounds studied exhibit a strong emission within the 378-563 nm range, and the maximal quantum yield (up to 77%) is observed for the Si derivative 3a'. For the majority of the compounds, the quantum yields (20-30%) are significantly larger than for 2,2'-bi- and 2,2':5',5''-terthiophenes. Due to their good emission properties, these compounds could be used to develop new materials with specific spectral properties.