From Germacarbonyl Compounds’ Perspective: Glad to be Formed and Stable in the Real World

Germacarbonyl compounds are the germanium analogs of carbonyl compounds, and they require an inert atmosphere for stability. Making these compounds survive the ambient conditions was not feasible given the lability of the Ge=E bonds (E = O, S, Se, Te). However, the first examples of germacarbonyl compounds synthesized under ambient conditions by taking advantage of dipyrromethene ligand stabilization are detailed here; the isolated compounds are germanones 3-4, germacarboxylic acids 6-7, germaesters 9-10, and germaamides 12-13 with Ge=E bonds (E = S, Se). The germaamides 12-13 can react under atmospheric conditions with copper(I) halides offering air and water stable monomeric 14-15 and dimeric 16-19 copper(I) complexes (halide = Cl, Br, I). Apart from just binding, selectivity was also observed; thiogermaamide 12 and selenogermaamide 13 bind CuCl and CuBr, respectively, when treated with a mixture of copper(I) halides.