Some peculiarities of structure, stability and reactivity of compounds containing metal—metal bonds

Abstract The complete X-ray analysis of bis(triphenylgermyl)mercury has been carried out. HgGe bond lengths in the well-known structures of bi- and polynuclear organometallic compounds are shown to be covalent and change over a wide range. The influence of screening efficiency of central metal atom in bi- and polyorganometallic compounds upon their reactivity and thermal stability has been treated.