Organogermanium chemistry

Germanium shares group 14 in the periodic table with carbon, silicon, tin and lead.

The first organogermanium compound, tetraethylgermane, synthesized by Winkler in 1887,[3] by the reaction of germanium tetrachloride with diethylzinc.

More commonly, these Ge(IV) compounds are prepared by alkylation of germanium halides by organolithium and Grignard reagents, including surfaces terminated with Ge-Cl bonds.

[8] Compounds with multiple bonds to Ge are usually highly reactive or require bulky organic substituents for their isolation.

[9] Compounds containing Ge=C (germenes) double bonds require bulky organic substituents for their isolation.

Isobutylgermane, a volatile colorless liquid, is used in MOVPE (Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy) in the deposition of Ge semiconductor films.

Synthesis of organogermanes
Structure of the trigonal prismatic [GeAr] 6 where Ar = 2,6- (iPr) 2 C 6 H 3 . [ 6 ] Color code: blue-gray = Ge, gray = C.
Organogermanium compounds