Tetrakis(trimethylgermyl)silane and tris(trimethylgermyl)silyllithium

Abstract

Tetrakis(trimethylgermyl)silane can be synthesized by the addition of four equivalents of trimethylgermyllithium to tetrachlorosilane. Treatment of tetrakis(trimethylgermyl)silane with methyllithium gives tris(trimethylgermyl)silyllithium, which was trapped with aqueous hydrochloric acid, chlorotrimethylsilane or methyl iodide to yield tris(trimethylgermyl)silane, tris(trimethylgermyl)(trimethylsilyl)silane, or methyltris(trimethylgermyl)silane, respectively. Chlorination of tris(trimethylgermyl)silane affords dichlorobis(trimethylgermyl)silane.