Stable adduct formation during the gas phase reactions between the trimethylgermanium cation and organic nucleophiles. An ion cyclotron resonance study

The trimethylgermanium cation (Me₃Ge⁺) reacts with aliphatic organic neutrals (M) which contain N, O or S, to form adducts M + Me₃Ge⁺] in the gas phase. These adducts are more stable than their analogues formed from the trimethylsilyl cation, and thus Me₃Ge⁺ is a useful analytical reagent for chemical ionization mass spectrometry.