LiEC(SiMe3)3 (E = Se, Te) as a new donor of chalcogen atoms for the generation of binary [(RxGey)Ez] cage compounds with unique structural features†
Abstract
The reaction of GeCl2·dioxane with LiEC(SiMe3)3 (E = Se, Te) shows unexpected products different from those of the previously presented reaction system GeCl2·dioxane/LiSC(SiMe3)3. Here, LiEC(SiMe3)3 (E = Se, Te) acts as a chalcogen atom donor and simultaneously as a substituent to give cage compounds of the composition [(RxGey)Ez] with unique structural features of the Ge/E cores. The molecular structures are presented together with a possible formation mechanism of the selenium/germanium cage compound [{((SiMe3)3CGe)2GeSe4}2(μ2-Se)2] supported by quantum chemical calculations.