Coordination of Tri-Substituted Nona–Germanium Clusters to Cu(I) and Pd(0)

The recently developed approach for the rational functionalization of deltahedral nona–germanium clusters Ge94– with three substituents to form Ge9R3– (R = Si­(SiMe3)3) in large amounts has made the latter a convenient starting material for further reactivity studies. Reported here are the synthesis, structures, and solution studies of two compounds where Ge9R3– are used as ligands to transition metals, [(Ge9R3)­CuI(Ge9R3)­CuIPPh3] (1) and [(Ge9R3)­Pd0(Ge9R3)]2– (2). The former adds to the families of anionic [(Ge9R3)­MI(Ge9R3)]− (MI = Cu, Ag, and Au) as a neutral member and of the neutral [(Ge9R3)­MII(Ge9R3)] (MII = Zn, Cd, and Hg), while the latter represents the first compound involving a metal from group 10.