Synthesis and Properties of Triphenylgermanium Heteroaromatic Carboxylates and Crystal Structure of Triphenylgermanium 2‐Furoate

Ten triphenylgermanium heteroaromatic carboxylates Ph₃GeO₂CR (where R=2‐furanyl, 2‐furanvinyl, 2‐(5‐tertbutyl) furanyl, 2‐thiophenyl, 2‐pyridinyl, 3‐pyridinyl, 4‐pyridinyl, 3‐indolyl, 3‐indolylmethyl, 3‐indolylpropyl) were synthesized by the reaction of sodium heteroaromatic carboxylates with the triphenylgermanium chloride. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR and MS spectra. The compounds were tested against two human tumour cell lines: MCF‐7 and WiDr. The results showed that they had high activities. The crystal structure of triphenylgermanium 2‐furoate was determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The crystal belongs to monoclinic with space group P2₁/c, a = 1.1545(4), b=0.9934(3), c = 1.6284(5) nm, β= 91.59(5), Z = 4. In this crystal, the structure consists of discrete molecule containing four‐coordinate germanium atom in a distored tetrahedron.