Flash Communication: Multinuclear Zwitterionic Germylene with Ge4 Chain Motif

A multinuclear germylene complex 2 was afforded by reacting the ylide-like N-heterocyclic germylene LGe (L = CH{(CCH2)(CMe)[N(Ar)]2}, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) (1) with GeCl2·dioxane. Complex 2 features a unique Ge4 chain skeleton, which was constructed via 1,4-addition between germylene and GeCl2, followed by the assembly of fragments. X-ray structural analysis and theoretical calculations illustrate the Ge–Ge bonding interaction and a zwitterionic character.