An intramolecular phosphine-oxide stabilized germanium(iv) di-cation with enhanced Lewis acidity and catalytic applications

Abstract

This work reports the intramolecular phosphine-oxide stabilized tetra-coordinated germanium(IV) di-cation on an acenaphthene platform, 1iPrPO. Computational study shows that the positive charges and the acceptor orbitals are localized on the Ge site. 1iPrPO is Lewis super acidic, capable of catalysing hydrodefluorination reaction. 1iPrPO also catalyses hydrosilylation of electron-deficient aldehydes.