Reactions of monogermylarsine and monogermylphosphine with water and hydrogen sulphide

Abstract

Water assists the condensation of monogermylarsine and monogermylphosphine to form the trigermyl species by way of digermylarsine and digermylphosphine both of which are isolated. On the other hand, hydrogen sulphide reacts with the monogermyl species to give digermyl sulphide by way of germanethiol. The reactions have been followed by ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy, and the spectra of several of the compounds are discussed. Methods of preparation of monogermyl-arsine and -phosphine are compared.