LiGe(SiMe₃)₃: A New Substituent for the Synthesis of Metalloid Tin Clusters from Metastable Sn(I) Halide Solutions.

The most fruitful synthetic route to metalloid tin clusters applies the disproportionation reaction of metastable Sn(I) halide solutions, whereby Si(SiMe₃)₃ is mostly used as the stabilizing substituent. Here, we describe the synthesis and application of the slightly modified substituent Ge(SiMe₃)₃, which can be used for the synthesis of metalloid tin clusters to give the neutral cluster Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₆ as well as the charged clusters {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₅}− and {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The obtained metalloid clusters are structurally similar to their Si(SiMe₃)₃ derivatives. However, differences with respect to the stability in solution are observed. Additionally, a different electronic situation for the tin atoms is realized as shown by 119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopy, giving further insight into the different kinds of tin atoms within the metalloid cluster {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The synthesis of diverse derivatives gives the opportunity to check the influence of the substituent for further investigations of metalloid tin cluster compounds.