A cryptand-encapsulated germanium(II) dication.

Unlike cations of metals such as sodium or calcium, oxidized silicon and germanium centers generally require strongly bound covalent ligands. We report the synthesis and characterization of a germanium(II) dication in the form of the salt (Ge.cryptand[2.2.2])(O3SCF3)2. The salt is isolated in 88% yield from the reaction of cryptand [2.2.2] and an N-heterocyclic carbene complex of GeCl(O3SCF3) as an air-sensitive, white solid. The crystal structure of the salt shows minimal interaction between the cryptand-encapsulated germanium(II) ion and the two -O3SCF3 counterions. These results suggest a widely expanded role of cryptands and related molecules in stabilizing nonmetallic cations.