Chlorine-free germanium processing

<p>Chlorine-free germanium processing are methods of germanium activation to form useful germanium precursors in a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly way compared to traditional synthetic routes. <a href="/facts/Germanium_tetrachloride/jYAjcTbS">Germanium tetrachloride</a> is a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of many <a href="/facts/Germanium/wtoALHGs">germanium</a> complexes. Normal synthesis of it involves an energy-intensive dehydration of <a href="/facts/Germanium_oxide/5UolukU8">germanium oxide</a>, 
  
    
      
        
          
            GeO
            
              2
            
            
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {GeO2}}}
  
, with <a href="/facts/Hydrogen_chloride/7Wzkhomd">hydrogen chloride</a>, 
  
    
      
        
          HCl
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {HCl}}}
  
 Due to the environmental and safety impact of non-recyclable, high energy reactions with 
  
    
      
        
          HCl
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {HCl}}}
  
, an alternative synthesis of a shelf-stable germanium intermediate precursor without <a href="/facts/Chlorine/y27UwYBM">chlorine</a> is of interest. In 2017, a synthesis of <a href="/facts/Organogermanes/KEBQDGLV">organogermanes</a>, 
  
    
      
        
          
            GeR
            
              4
            
            
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {GeR4}}}
  
 without using chloride species was reported, allowing for a much more environmentally friendly and low energy <a href="/facts/Chemical_synthesis/3KXsVVwC">synthesis</a> using 
  
    
      
        
          
            GeO
            
              2
            
            
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {GeO2}}}
  
, 
  
    
      
        
          Ge
          
            (
            0
            
            )
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {Ge(0)}}}
  
, and even selectively activating germanium in the presence of <a href="/facts/Zinc_oxide/P7sTyDez">zinc oxide</a> (
  
    
      
        
          ZnO
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle {\ce {ZnO}}}
  
), resulting in products that are bench stable and solid.
</p>

Chlorine-free germanium processing open-in-new

Chlorine-free germanium processing