Ge14Br8–xClx(PEt3)4: Insight into the Reaction Route to Metalloid Clusters of Germanium

The isolation of the germanium mixed halide cluster Ge14Br8-xClx(PEt3)4 (2) by the reaction of a metastable GeIBr solution (toluene/PEt3) with GeCl2·dioxane provides new insights into the complex formation mechanism of metalloid germanium clusters through the disproportionation reaction of GeIX (X = Cl and Br). It is shown that the GeII halide is involved in at least two steps in the build-up reaction of 2. The molecular structure of 2 is presented together with a plausible reaction mechanism leading to the binary cluster Ge14Br8(PEt3)4 and future aspects of these findings.