Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance study of the gas-phase acidities of germane and methylgermane; Bond dissociation energy of germane.

An accurate gas-phase acidity for germane (enthalpy scale, equivalent to the proton affinity of GeH3 (-)), ΔH acid (o)(GeH4) = 1502.0 ± 5.1 kJ mol(-1), is obtained by constructing a consistent acidity ladder between GeH4, and H2S by using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry, and 0 and 298.15 K values for the first bond dissociation energy of GeH4 are proposed: D0 (o)(H3Ge-H) = 352 ± 9 kJ mol(-1); D (o)(H3Ge-H) = 358 ± 9 kJ mol(-1), respectively. These results are compared with experimental and theoretical data reported in the literature. Methylgermane was found to be a weaker acid than germane by approximately 35 kJ mol(-1): ΔH acid (o) = 1536.6 kJ mol(-1).