title: Facile access to a Ge(ii) dication stabilized by isocyanides.
abstract: Herein, we introduce isocyanide as a ligand in main group chemistry and describe the facile isolation of a Ge(ii) dication. The reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide with GeCl2 leads to the formation of a Ge(ii) dication with two [GeCl3](-) molecules as counter anions. The dicationic Ge(ii) center is bound to four isocyanide ligands and also holds a lone pair of electrons. DFT calculations reveal that the dication is stabilized only by σ-donation from the four isocyanide ligands. Natural population analysis gives a charge of +0.74 on the Ge(ii) center, indicating that the positive charge is shared by the isocyanide substituents.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India. ss.sen@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: V S V S N
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India. ss.sen@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India.
authors.forename: Shiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Physical and Material Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India. k.vanka@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: Tamal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Physical and Material Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India. k.vanka@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanka
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, India. ss.sen@ncl.res.in.
authors.forename: Sakya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sen