Germanium ethoxides synthesis

The direct electrochemical synthesis of metal alkoxides by the anodic dissolution of metals into alcohols containing conducting electrolytes was initially demonstrated by Szilard in 1906 for the methoxides of copper and lead.19 More recently the method has received some attention particularly in the patent literature.29-25 The preparation of the ethoxides of silicon, titanium, germanium, zirconium and tantalum by electrolysis of ethanolic solutions of NH Cl has been patented, although the production of the ethoxides was found to cease after several hours.24,25... 

For germania synthesis, 2 pL of either geimanium (IV) ethoxide or germanium (IV) i-propoxide was directly added to a mixture of 20 pL of a 5 mg/ml YT320 protein solution and 80 pL buffer. The mixture was left for 5 minutes to react and was then washed and characterised as described above. No precipitation was observed in control experiments carried out without any protein. 

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