GeClx[Co(CO)3PR3]4−x (x = 0–3; R = nPr, nBu): from cobalt substituted germanes to novel binary cluster compounds.

Abstract

The synthesis of a variety of cobalt substituted germanes of the composition GeCl_x[Co(CO)₃PR₃]_4−x (x = 0–3; R = ⁿPr, ⁿBu) is presented, which can be obtained in average to good yields from a reaction of GeCl₂·dioxane and Co₂(CO)₈ or KCo(CO)₄ in the presence of the respective phosphine. Reductive coupling reactions with potassium/benzophenone lead to ligand scrambling while the reductive coupling with Mg/MgBr₂ leads to the pseudo-cubic cluster compound Ge₇Co(CO)₃[Co(CO)₃PⁿBu₃]₇2, showing that the mixed substituted germanes are powerful precursors to this new class of cluster compounds. All compounds are structurally characterized and well observable via NMR and IR spectroscopy.