Synthesis and oxidation of bis(triphenylgermyl)zinc

Bis(triphenylgermyl)zinc (Ph3Ge)2Zn (1), prepared by the reaction of diethylzinc (Et2Zn) with two molar amounts of triphenylgermane (Ph3GeH), was easily reacted by a small amount of oxygen to give tetrameric oxide (Ph3GeZnO)4 (2). Four zinc and four oxygen atoms in 2 are arranged such that a cube is formed as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Further oxidation of 2 led to the formation of digermoxane, (Ph3Ge)2O as a final product.