Synthesis and Structure of Benzyltriethylammonium Trichlorogermanate(II)

Abstract

Abstract The reaction of equimolar quantities of GeCl2 · dioxane with [BzEt3N]+ Cl- in tetrahydro-naphthaline gives high yields of [BzEt3N]+ [GeCl3]-. The asymmetric unit of the monoclinic single crystals (from CH2CI2 , space group P21/c, Z = 8) are comprising two pairs of crystallographically independent cations and anions, each with very similar molecular dimensions. The isolated [GeCl3]-anions have a trigonal pyramidal structure with narrow Cl-Ge-Cl angles in the range from 93.41(5) to 98.27(5)° and Ge-Cl distances between 2.293(2) and 2.305(2) Å. This structure is thus very similar to that of the isoelectronic AsCl3 molecule and of the [SeCl3]+ cation.