title: Synthetic, structural and theoretical studies of amidinate and guanidinate stabilised germanium(I) dimers.
abstract: The neutral germanium(i) dimers, [{Ge(Piso)}(2)] and [{Ge(Giso)}(2)], Piso = [(ArN)(2)CBu(t)](-), Giso = [(ArN)(2)CNPr(i)(2)](-), Ar = C(6)H(3)Pr(i)(2)-2,6, which are stabilised by bulky amidinate and guanidinate ligands respectively, have been prepared by reduction of the corresponding germanium(ii) chlorides, [Ge(Piso)Cl] and [Ge(Giso)Cl]; theoretical studies suggest that the Ge-Ge bonds of [{Ge(Piso)}(2)] and [{Ge(Giso)}(2)] are associated with their HOMOs, whilst their LUMOs have substantial Ge-Ge pi-bonding character.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fundamental and Applied Main Group Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Main Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UKCF10 3AT.
authors.forename: Shaun P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Junk
authors.forename: Kai-Alexander
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stasch