Digermanium polycobalt carbonyls formed by addition reactions of GeH bonds: [Co4(CO)13Ge(GeMe2)] and [Co6(CO)20Ge2]

GeMe₂H₂ reacts under mild conditions with [{Co₂(CO)₇}₂Ge] to replace one bridging CO and give [Co₄(CO)₁₃Ge(GeMe₂)]. GeH₄ similarly yields a trace of [Co₆(CO)₂₀Ge₂], which may be made in high yield from [Co₂(CO)₈] and Ge₂H₆ or Me₂Si(GeH₃)₂. Spectroscopic evidence suggests structures of linked GeCo₂ triangles.