{Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]2}2-: a starting point for mixed substituted metalloid germanium clusters

Deeper investigations on the silylation reaction of the Ge-9(4-) Zintl anion are provided. The reaction of K4Ge9 with two equivalents of ClHyp (Hyp = Si(SiMe3)(3)) gives the metalloid cluster compound [Ge-9(Hyp)(2)](2-). Subsequent reactions with this compound give access to the first mixed trisubstituted metalloid cluster [Ge-9(Hyp)(2)( Hyp(Ph3))](-) (HypPh(3) = Si(SiMe3)(2)(SiPh3)), opening a way to a variety of mixed substituted Ge-9 clusters for future investigations.