Complexation of aromatic dichalcogen ligands to germanium

Abstract

Eight novel germanium compounds of the type [R2Ge(E-Ar-E)], where R = Me, Ph; E-Ar-E = an aromatic bidentate chalcogen ligand, were successfully synthesised. The effects of changing 3 variables within the series were investigated. These variables included the chalcogen (E = S/Se), aromatic backbone (Ar = Nap/Biphenyl) and R group (Me/Ph) employed. The choice of aromatic backbone had the greatest effect on the structure. A substantial change in geometry around the germanium centre was observed within the solid state structures depending on whether the backbone was naphthalene or biphenyl. This affected the stability of the compound and resulted in the visible decomposition of two selenium complexes over several days. All novel compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction.