Combined electron diffraction/mass-spectrometric investigation of the molecular structure of germanium dichloride

Abstract Germanium dichloride was produced by reaction of Ge + GeCl 4 at 660°C in a combined electron diffraction/quadrupole mass-spectrometric experiment. The structure of germanium dichloride can be characterized by the following parameters: r a (GeCl): 2.183 (4) A, l (GeCl): 0.080 (2) A, ∠ClGeCl: 100.3(4)°, l (ClċCl): 0.166 (4) A. The geometrical variations observed in Group IV dihalides are consistent with the VSEPR model, and with considerations based on non-bonded interactions.