Sulfidogermanates or thiogermanates are chemical compounds containing anions with sulfur atoms bound to germanium. They are in the class of chalcogenidotetrelates. Related compounds include thiosilicates, thiostannates, selenidogermanates, telluridogermanates and selenidostannates.
Coordination of sulfur around germanium is tetrahedral meaning there are four sulfur atoms symmetrically arranged. This basic structure can form ortho salts with GeS44−, oligomers, or polymeric structures.[1] Similar structures are also formed with heavy group 13 and group 14 elements due to their relatively stronger bonds with sulfur. Light elements from these groups have lower affinity for sulfur, so there are fewer compounds like this for boron, aluminium, carbon, and silicon.[1] Other heavy group 12 and 15 elements also form chalcogenidometallates which may have other kinds of coordination. Selenium forms similar compounds to sulfur in this family.[1]
Where sulfur is deficient, an anion is not formed, and instead cation-like covalent compounds can exist with halogens, such as Ge4S6Br4,[2] or Ge4S6I4.[3]
- ^ a b c Wang, Kai-Yao; Feng, Mei-Ling; Huang, Xiao-Ying; Li, Jing (September 2016). "Organically directed heterometallic chalcogenidometalates containing group 12(II)/13(III)/14(IV) metal ions and antimony(III)". Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 322: 41–68. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2016.04.021.
- ^ Pohl, Siegfried (March 1976). "Ge4S6Br4—The First Sulfide Halide of Germanium". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 15 (3): 162. doi:10.1002/anie.197601621.
- ^ Pohl, Siegfried; Seyer, Ulrich; Krebs, Bernt (1 November 1981). "Sulfidhalogenide des Germaniums: Darstellung und Strukturen von Ge 4 S 6 Br 4 und Ge 4 S 6 I 4 / Thiohalides of Germanium: Preparation and Structures of Ge 4 SeBr 4 and Ge 4 S 6 I 4". Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B. 36 (11): 1432–1443. doi:10.1515/znb-1981-1116. S2CID 93779728.