Cationic 2,2'-bipyridine complexes of germanium(ii) and tin(ii).

We present the first systematic study of 2,2'-bipyridine complexes of E(II) cationic acceptors (E = Ge, Sn). The complexes were comprehensively characterized by spectroscopic and crystallo-graphic methods to yield complexes of ECl1+ and E2+. Computational DFT methods were also employed to survey the bonding in the cations, along with an examination of their molecular orbitals (MOs).