Substituent Effects in Digermanes: Electrochemical, Theoretical, and Structural Investigations

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.

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.

Molecular Oligogermanes and Related Compounds: Structure, Optical and Semiconductor Properties

The optical (UV/Vis absorbance, fluorescence in the solid state and in solution) and semiconducting properties of a number of di- and trigermanes as well as related silicon- and tin-containing germanes, 1-6 ((p-Tol)₃ GeGeMe₃ (1), Ph₃ SnGe(SiMe₃ )₃ (2), (C₆ F₅ )₃ GeGePh₃ (3), (p-Tol)₃ GeSiMe₂ SiMe₃ (4), (p-Tol)₃ GeGeMe₂ Ge(p-Tol)₃ (5), (p-Tol)₃ GeSiMe₂ SiMe₂ Ge(p-Tol)₃ (6)) were investigated. Molecular structures of 5 and 6 were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. All compounds displayed luminescence properties. In addition, a band gap (of about 3.3 eV) was measured for compounds 1-6 showing that those molecules display semiconductor properties.

Synthesis, Electronic Structure, and Reactivity Studies of a 4-Coordinate Square Planar Germanium(IV) Cation

A tetra-coordinate, square planar germanium(IV) cation [(TPFC)Ge](+) (TPFC = tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole) was synthesized quantitatively by the reaction of (TPFC)Ge-H with [Ph3C](+)[B(C6F5)4](¯). The highly reactive [(TPFC)Ge](+) cation reacted with benzene to form phenyl complex (TPFC)Ge-C6H5 through an electrophilic pathway. The key intermediate, a σ-type germylium-benzene adduct, [(TPFC)Ge(η(1)-C6H6)](+), was isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Deprotonation of [(TPFC)Ge(η(1)-C6H6)](+) cation led to the formation of (TPFC)Ge-C6H5. [(TPFC)Ge](+) also reacted with ethylene and cyclopropane in benzene at room temperature to form (TPFC)Ge-CH2CH2C6H5 and (TPFC)Ge-CH2CH2CH2C6H5, respectively. The observed electrophilic reactivity is ascribed to the highly exposed cationic germanium center with novel frontier orbitals comprising two vacant sp-hybridized orbitals that are not conjugated to π-system. The three electron-withdrawing pentafluorophenyl groups on the corrole ligand also enhance the electrophilicity of the cationic germanium corrole.

Synthesis, structure, and properties of the hexagermane Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3

The synthesis of the hexagermane Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3 was achieved starting from the cyclotetragermane (Ph2Ge)4. Ring-opening of (Ph2Ge)4 with Br2 yielded Br(GePh2)4Br that was converted to H(GePh2)4H, and this material was treated with two equiv. of Pri3GeNMe2 to furnish Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3 via the hydrogermolysis reaction. The X-ray crystal structures of (Ph2Ge)4, Br(GePh2)4Br and Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3 were determined. The hexagermane Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3 represents the longest structurally characterized linear oligogermane reported to date and exhibits physical properties that resemble those of the larger polygermane systems. The hexagermane is luminescent and interacts with polarized light, appearing pale yellow under one orientation of polarized light and deep blue under the opposite orientation. The electrochemistry of Pri3Ge(GePh2)4GePri3 was also explored, and this species exhibits the expected five irreversible oxidation waves.

Polygermanes: bandgap engineering via tensile strain and side-chain substitution

Polygermanes: bandgap engineering by strain and side-chain substitution.

New oligogermane with a five coordinate germanium atom: the preparation of 1-germylgermatrane

The first example of a hypercoordinate oligogermane was prepared and characterized.