Pentagermapyramidane: crystallizing the "transition-state" structure

Abstract

The first example of the homonuclear pyramidanes, pentagermapyramidane, was synthesized, fully characterized, and computationally studied to reveal its peculiar structural features and the nature of its apex-to-base bonding interactions. Both solid-state and solution structures of pentagermapyramidane are discussed based on the computed stabilities of its square-pyramidal and distorted forms.

Keywords: NMR spectroscopy; X‐ray diffraction; cage compounds; density functional calculations; germanium.