Synthesis and Characterization of a 1,2-Digermabenzene

A 1,2-digermabenzene bearing bulky substituents on its two germanium atoms was successfully synthesized and isolated as a stable, crystalline compound via the reaction of a digermyne precursor with 2 equiv of acetylene. Even though its molecular structure, which was revealed by X-ray crystallographic analysis, showed a trans-bent geometry for the Ge-Ge moiety, theoretical calculations Suggested substantial levels of aromaticity.