Neutral R₃PAuGe₉(Hyp)₃ (R=Et, ⁿPr, ⁱPr, ⁿBu, ^tBu, Cy) (Hyp=Si(SiMe₃) Clusters give new insights into the ligand strength of the metalloid [Ge₉(Hyp)₃]^- cluster

We present new insights into the ligand strength of the metalloid [Ge-9(Hyp)(3)](-) cluster (Hyp=Si(SiMe3)(3)) alongside novel neutral Ge-9 clusters of the composition R3PAuGe9(Hyp)(3) (R=Et, Pr-n, Pr-i, Bu-n, Bu-t, Cy). These clusters are synthesized in good yields from KGe9(Hyp)(3) and R3PAuCl. Further experiments with these new clusters show that the ligand strength of [Ge-9(Hyp)(3)](-) is in between aryl and alkyl phosphines.