{[Si(SiMe3)3]2Ge9-SiMe2-(C6H4)-SiMe2-Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]2K}- : The Connection of Metalloid Clusters via an Organic Linker

The reaction of [(Hyp)(2)Ge-9](2-) (Hyp = Si-(SiMe3)(3)) with ClSiMe2-C6H4-SiMe2Cl gives [K(THF)]-[(Hyp)(2)Ge-9-SiMe2-C6H4-SiMe2-Ge-9(Hyp)(2)K] K1 in 45% yield in the form of orange-red crystals. 1 is thereby the first compound where two Ge-9(Hyp)(2) clusters are bound together via a bridging ligand. 1 is stable in, solution but cannot be transferred intact into the gas phase via electrospray ionization indicating a higher reactivity with respect to other metalloid Ge9R3 clusters. The arrangement of the nine germanium atoms within: the two Ge-9 units in 1 is unique for metalloid Ge9R3 clusters. Quantum chemical calculations further reveal an electronic interaction of the two Ge-9 units in 1 via the bridging phenylene group.