{Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]2}(2-): a starting point for mixed substituted metalloid germanium clusters.

Deeper investigations on the silylation reaction of the Ge9(4-) Zintl anion are provided. The reaction of K4Ge9 with two equivalents of ClHyp (Hyp = Si(SiMe3)3) gives the metalloid cluster compound [Ge9(Hyp)2](2-). Subsequent reactions with this compound give access to the first mixed trisubstituted metalloid cluster [Ge9(Hyp)2(Hyp(Ph3))](-) (Hyp(Ph3) = Si(SiMe3)2(SiPh3)), opening a way to a variety of mixed substituted Ge9 clusters for future investigations.