A Prelude to Biogermylene Chemistry

Abstract

<p><b>Abstract:</b> The biological applications of germylenes remain an unconceivable domain owing to their unstable nature. We report the isolation of air, water, and culture-medium stable germylene DPMGeOH (<b>3</b>) and its potential biological application (DPM = dipyrromethene ligand). Compound <b>3 </b>exhibits antiproliferative effects comparable to that of cisplatin in human cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of compound <b>3 </b>on normal epithelial cells is minimal and is similar to that of the currently used anti-cancer drugs. These findings provide a framework for a plethora of biological studies using germylenes and have important implications for low-valent main group chemistry.</p>