The reaction of dichloro-bisacetylacetonato-germanium (IV) with ferric chloride

Trisacetylacetonato-germanium (IV) tetrachloroferrate (III) was prepared by the reaction of Ge(aca) 2 Cl 2 and anhydrous FeCl 3 : Ge(aca) 3 FeCl 4 can be prepared from GeCl 4 and acetylacetone in the presence of ferric chloride and Ge(aca) 2 Cl 2 is shown to be possible intermediate in this reaction. Conductance experiments indicate that Ge(aca) 3 FeCl 4 is a 1:1 electrolyte in acetonitrile, nitromethane and nitrobenzene. The ultra-violet and the visible spectra indicate the presence of the FeCl 4 − anion and the infra-red spectra confirm the presence of FeCl 4 − . The trisacetylacetonato-germanium compound may be formulated as [Ge(aca) 3 + ][FeCl 4 − ].