Of the alkoxy-and glycoxy derivatives of tetravalent elements (group14 as well as 4) which have been extensively studied 1-2 from spectroscopic as well as structural points of view, those of germanium have received much less attention. Although penta [3][4][5][6] and hexa 7-10 coordinated derivatives of even germanium with complex organic moieties have been reported, the alkoxy derivatives generally prefer a tetracoordinated structure [11][12][13][14] even with alkoxyalkanols as shown in a recent publication. 14 In this paper, a crystallographically characterised pentacoordinate diolate bridged derivative, [Ge 2 (O 2 C 2 H 4 ) 4 ], is being reported for the first time as part of a detailed physicochemical study of the diolate derivatives of germanium(IV).
Results and discussionReactions of Ge(OPr i ) 4 with a variety of glycols in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios in anhydrous benzene yield the compounds (OPr i ) 2 Ge(O-G-O) (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) or Ge(O-G-O) 2 (2, 4, 6, 8, 10), respectively.