[Si(SiMe3)3]3Ge9M(CO)3− (M = Cr, Mo, W): Coordination Chemistry with metalloid Clusters

Abstract

Very recently it was shown that the metalloid cluster compound {Ge₉[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₃}⁻1 can be used for subsequent reactions as the shielding of the cluster core is rather incomplete. So the reaction of 1 with Cr(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃ leads to a cluster enlargement where the chromium atom is incorporated into the cluster core. Here further applications of 1 as a flexible ligand in coordination chemistry are presented where the reaction of 1 with Mo(CO)₃(EtCN)₃ and W(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃ leads to [(CO)₃MoGe₉R₃]⁻4 and [(CO)₃WGe₉R₃]⁻5 respectively (R = Si(SiMe₃)₃), showing that 1 can indeed be used as a flexible ligand in coordination chemistry. Structural and electronic properties of the Ge₉M clusters 4 and 5 are discussed as well as mechanistic aspects of their formation.