Benzodiselenagermoles and spirobisbenzodiselenagermoles

Synthesis of benzodiselenagermoles and bisbenzodiselenagermoles was carried out by transmetallation group 4 → group 14 between diselenophenylenezirconocenes and dialkyl-, diaryl- or alkylaryldichlorogermanes, aryltrichlorogermane or germanium tetrachloride. The new compounds were studied by ¹H, ⁷⁷Se NMR and mass spectrometry. In the case of compounds with substituted phenyl groups, double irradiation and 2D NMR experiments were performed to determine the chemical shifts of the two selenium atoms. The crystal structure of a spirobisbenzodiselenagermole has been established by X-ray diffraction analysis.