Silylgermane is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a colorless gas with an unpleasant odor. It is unstable in air. It is very flammable, very toxic and corrosive. It reacts with alkali liberating hydrogen.[1]
Silylgermane was prepared in 1962 by Alan MacDiarmid and his coworkers by a silent electric discharge through an equimolar mix of silane and germane gases for a total of 28 hours. This method produces other hydrides of silicon and germanium as well.[2]
One of the most common methods of preparation of silylgermane is the reaction of germane and chlorosilane in the presence of a catalyst. Another method is the reaction of germane and silicon tetrachloride in the presence of a reducing agent. Silylgermane can also be produced by the reaction between hydrochloric acid and magnesium or calcium germanides-silicides, and by the reaction between hydrofluoric acid and a mixture of silicon monoxide and germanium monoxide. The synthesis of silylgermane requires careful handling due to its extreme toxicity and flammability.
Silylgermane molecule contains both silicon and germanium atoms.[3] The molecule of silylgermane can be viewed as a silyl group replacing one of the hydrogen atoms of the germane molecule. According to the VSEPR theory, the molecule structure is like ethane, with a tetrahedral molecular geometry on silicon and germanium atoms. Silylgermane is a group 14 hydride.[4] [5]
Silylgermane is useful in scientific research applications, for example in research of the properties of silicon and germanium compounds. Silylgermane is used as a precursor for the synthesis of germanium compounds, as well as in electronics such as germanium quantum dots, germanium nanowires, and in the production of solar cells and semiconductors.[6]
Silylgermane is extremely flammable and may explode, especially upon heating closed bottles containing this chemical. Silylgermane is known to be very toxic, thus, it is important to handle this chemical with cautiousness and to use appropriate protective equipment. It irritates skin, eyes and respiratory system. It is corrosive both to materials and living tissues (e.g. skin, mucous membrane, lungs and eyes). May cause severe and permanent skin and eye damage. Inhalation of silylgermane and its fumes may cause death.
Derivatives of the general formula (X = hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl, and mixtures of these groups) are called silylgermanes as well.
Organic silylgermanes can be prepared by the reaction between silylpotassium and chlorogermane, or by the reaction between germylpotassium and chlorosilane .
The way to obtain fully alkylated silylgermanes is reaction between trialkylsilyl halide, trialkylgermyl halide and the sodium metal (typically, the R and R' groups are ethyl and the X is bromine Br).