Polymeric and dimeric structures of lithium(triethylgermyl)(triphenyl)borate: synthesis and characterization

The germyl borate 1 was prepared by the reaction of triphenylborane with an excess of unsolvated triethylgermyllithium in a hexane/benzene mixed solvent. The polymeric structure of 1 was observed in the solid state and in a hydrocarbon solvent. The lithium atoms were located near the center of the benzene ring and interacted with the neighboring borate molecules by the Li+–π interaction. The polymeric structure was destroyed by the addition of MeOH, however, 1 was coordinated by three MeOH molecules to form the dimeric structure without alcoholysis reaction.