Ge-Fe Carbonyl Cluster Compounds: Ionic Liquids-Based Synthesis, Structures, and Properties.

Nine Ge-Fe carbonyl cluster compounds are prepared via ionic liquids-based synthesis. This includes the novel compounds [EMIm][Fe(CO) I(GeI )], [EHIm][Fe(CO) I(GeI )], [BMIm][GeI {Fe(CO) } (μ-I)][AlCl ] , [GeI {Fe(CO) } (μ-I)][Fe(AlBr ) ], [BMIm] [(FeI ) {Fe(CO) I(GeI ) } ], and [EHIm][Fe(CO) (GeI ) Fe(CO) GeI ] as well as the previously reported compounds (Fe(CO) (GeI ) , FeI {GeI Fe(CO) } , and Ge {Fe(CO) } (μ-I) (EMIm: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, EHIm: 1-ethylimidazolium, BMIm: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium). With this series of compounds, a comparison of synthesis conditions and structural features is possible and, for instance, allows correlating the composition and structure of the respective Ge-Fe carbonyl cluster compounds with the type and acidity of the ionic liquid. With [EMIm][{GeI } Fe(CO) I], moreover, we can exemplarily show the thermal decomposition as a single-source precursor in the ionic liquid, resulting in bimetallic Ge-Fe nanoparticles with small size and narrow size distribution (7.0±1.4 nm).