Germacarboxylic Acid: An Organic‐Acid Analogue Based on a Heavier Group 14 Element

First impressions: An oxidative addition between [LGeOH] and elemental sulfur leads to the isolation of the first germacarboxylic acid [LGe(S)OH] (L=HC{(CMe)(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)}2; see picture). In the solid state [LGe(S)OH] displays preferential of the thiono-form and formation of hydrogen-bond arrays generates dimers. This germacarboxylic acid shows how the heavier congeners of Group 14 can mimic well know organic functional groups.