Electrochemical oxidation germacyclopentadienes (germoles)

The electrochemical oxidation of five germole derivatives: 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-germacyclopentadiene (I), 1,1-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-germacyclopentadiene (II), 1-methyl-1-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-germacyclopentadiene (III), 1,1-dichloro-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-germacyclopentadiene (IV) and a bicyclic compound (V) 1,1′-dimethyl-2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-octaphenyl bisilole, bonded through a Si–Si bond, has been investigated, both by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis. The effects of the nature of electrolyte, atmosphere and substituents attached to the germanium atom in the germacyclopentadiene ring on the outcome of the electrochemical oxidation are discussed.