Germanium dichloride

Germanium dichloride is a chemical compound of germanium and chlorine with the formula. It is a yellow solid. Germanium dichloride is an example of a compound featuring germanium in the +2 oxidation state.

Preparation

Solid germanium dichloride can be produced by comproportionation by passing germanium tetrachloride,, over germanium metal at 300 °C and reduced pressure.
Germanium dichloride is also formed from the decomposition of trichlorogermane,, at 70 °C. Trichlorogermane is generated when germanium reacts with hydrogen chloride. This reaction involves dehydrohalogenation.
Another route to germanium dichloride is the reduction of germanium tetrachloride with hydrogen at 800 °C.

Reactions

is hydrolysed to give yellow germanium hydroxide, which on warming gives brown germanium monoxide:
Alkalizing a solution containing germanium ions:
Germanium oxides and hydroxides are amphoteric.
Solutions of in HCl are strongly reducing. With chloride ion, ionic compounds containing the pyramidal ion have been characterised, for example With rubidium and caesium chloride compounds, e.g. are produced; these have distorted perovskite structures.
Germanium dichloride reacts with tetraethylammonium chloride to give the trichlorogermanate:

Dichlorogermylene

Molecular is often called dichlorogermylene, highlighting its resemblance to a carbene. The structure of gas-phase molecular shows that it is a bent molecule, as predicted by VSEPR theory. The dioxane complex,, has been used as a source of molecular for reaction syntheses, as has the in situ reaction of and Ge metal. is quite reactive and inserts into many types of chemical bonds. Usually, germanium dichloride is generated from germanium dichloride dioxane.