Low-valent oligogermanium amidophenolate complex comprising a unique Ge4 chain.

New 10π-electron stabilized O,N-heterocyclic germylene was synthesized and structurally characterized for the first time. Its reduction with potassium in THF resulted in a unique low-valent germanium compound comprising the conjugated Ge 4 chain, which was also characterized by the single crystal X-ray analysis. Bonding aspects in the latter compound have been additionally explored by DFT calculations, which revealed the occurrence of three σ bonds of different (covalent and dative) characters between the Ge atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]