Reaction of germanes and digermanes with triflic acid: The route to novel organooligogermanes

Novel germanium containing triflates were prepared from the reactions of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid with tetraphenylgermane (1) and digermanes (Ph3GeGeMe3 (4), Ph3GeGePh3 (5)). The improved procedures for synthesis of known organogermanium compounds (Ph4Ge (1), Ph3GeCl (2), Ph3GeGeMe3 (4), Ph3GeGePh3 (5)) were also presented. The crystal structure of Ph3GeOTf (6) and Ph2Ge(OTf)Ge(OTf)Ph2 (7) was studied by X-ray analysis. In 7 each germanium atom is pentacoordinated due to intramolecular interaction with O atom of the neighboring triflate group.