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Science 28 November 2008:
Vol. 322. no. 5906, pp. 1360 - 1363
DOI: 10.1126/science.1163033
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Reports

A Cryptand-Encapsulated Germanium(II) Dication

Paul A. Rupar, Viktor N. Staroverov, Kim M. Baines*

Unlike cations of metals such as sodium or calcium, oxidized silicon and germanium centers generally require strongly bound covalent ligands. We report the synthesis and characterization of a germanium(II) dication in the form of the salt (Ge·cryptand[2.2.2])(O3SCF3)2. The salt is isolated in 88% yield from the reaction of cryptand [2.2.2] and an N-heterocyclic carbene complex of GeCl(O3SCF3) as an air-sensitive, white solid. The crystal structure of the salt shows minimal interaction between the cryptand-encapsulated germanium(II) ion and the two –O3SCF3 counterions. These results suggest a widely expanded role of cryptands and related molecules in stabilizing nonmetallic cations.

Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kbaines2{at}uwo.ca

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)