Germanabenzene

Germanabenzene (C5H6Ge) is the parent representative of a group of chemical compounds containing in their molecular structure a benzene ring with a carbon atom replaced by a germanium atom. Germanabenzene (1) itself is still elusive but stable naphthalene derivatives do exist in the laboratory such as the 2-germananaphthalene 2. The germanium to carbon bond in this compound is shielded from potential reactants a 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl or Tbt group. This compound is aromatic just as the other carbon group representatives in silabenzene and stannabenzene compounds.