F3Ge-Xe+: A Xenon-Germanium Molecular Species

Searching for novel compounds of the noble gases still remains a fascinating experimental and theoretical challenge. The trifluorogermylxenon cation F3Ge-Xe+, a stable xenon-germanium molecular species, is obtained in the gas phase by the nucleophilic displacement of HP from protonated GeF4 by Xe. The alternative isomers F2Ge-Xe-F+ and FGe-F-Xe-F+, theoretically less stable than F3Ge-Xe+ by ca. 80-90 kcal mol(-1), are not attainable under the employed ion trap mass spectrometric conditions. The observation of F3Ge-Xe+ enlarges the evidence concerning the conceivable binding partners of xenon.