Mackay, Kenneth M.Graham, Bruce W. L.2025-09-262025-09-261973https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17668The compounds germylpentacarbonylmanganese, methylgermylpentacarbonylmanganese, and methylgermyltetracarbonylcobalt have been prepared by alkali-halide elimination reactions between the appropriate germyl halides and metal carbonyl anions. The two methyl derivatives were characterised by vibrational and nmr spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, with assignments being proposed for most of the observed features of the spectra. Some reactions of H₃GeMn(CO)₅ and MeGeH₂Mn(CO)₅ were investigated. Reagents used included the halogens, hydrogen halides, group III and group IV-halides, mercuric halides, phosphorus trihalides, triarylphosphines, and ethylene. The reaction of MeGeH₂Co(CO)₄ with mercuric chloride was also investigated, as were a number of related reactions of MeGeH₃ and the methylgermyl halides. Most of the reactions were studied by nmr spectroscopy, and in some cases products were further characterised by infrared spectroscopy. The reactions of MeGeH₃ and MeGeH₂Co(CO)₄ with Co₂(CO)₈ were investigated and in both cases the compound MeGeCo₃(CO)₁₁ was isolated as a major product. Some exchange reactions of MeGeH₂Co(CO)₄ and (H₃Ge)₂Fe(CO)₄ with Mn(CO)₅⁻ were also investigated as a new synthetic route to group IV-transition metal compounds. The identification of the various reaction products is reported and discussed, and the reactions of group IV-transition metal compounds are reviewed.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Thesis