Germanium hydrides oxidative addition

This reaction exclusively leads to hydrides where hydrogen is cis to silicon or germanium and which are identical to those obtained by oxidative addition of Si-H or Ge-H complexes to (i/ -methylcyclopentadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese. 

Several examples of oxidative addition reactions of compounds involving group (iv) elements, silicon and germanium, with iridium(i) complexes have been described and reviewed. In the reaction of silicon hydrides (CH3) (C2H50)3 SiH with bis(bis-l, 2-diphenylphosphinoethane)iridium(i), [Ir (diphos)2],... 

Of all the reactions studied, only the synthesis of nitrogen oxides and acetylene in arcs or plasma torches and that of ozone in glow and corona discharges are of major importance. In addition, a few small-scale preparations of inorganic compounds have been developed, e.g. synthesis of hydrazine and of hydrides and halides of silicon, germanium, tin, lead, phosphorus or arsenic 3> ... 

Hydrogen atom transfer reactions involving 17-electron hydrides have been considered in a number of cases [54, 58, 86, 99, 112] as alternatives to proton and electron transfers, on the basis of the known atom transfer processes of hydride compounds of tin, germanium, and silicon. In addition, as discussed in section 6.4.3, there is some evidence for M-H bond weakening upon oxidation, suggesting that the homolytic rupture of this bond may take place under favourable circumstances. 

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