The most fruitful synthetic route to metalloid tin clusters applies the disproportionation reaction of metastable Sn(I) halide solutions, whereby Si(SiMe₃)₃ is mostly used as the stabilizing substituent. Here, we describe the synthesis and application of the slightly modified substituent Ge(SiMe₃)₃, which can be used for the synthesis of metalloid tin clusters to give the neutral cluster Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₆ as well as the charged clusters {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₅}− and {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The obtained metalloid clusters are structurally similar to their Si(SiMe₃)₃ derivatives. However, differences with respect to the stability in solution are observed. Additionally, a different electronic situation for the tin atoms is realized as shown by 119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopy, giving further insight into the different kinds of tin atoms within the metalloid cluster {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The synthesis of diverse derivatives gives the opportunity to check the influence of the substituent for further investigations of metalloid tin cluster compounds.
Keywords: Mössbauer spectroscopy; bulky substituents; co-condensation; disproportionation; germanium; metalloid clusters; nanoscaled clusters; tin.