A Prelude to Biogermylene Chemistry

Abstract: 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 (3) and its potential biological application (DPM = dipyrromethene ligand). Compound 3 exhibits antiproliferative effects comparable to that of cisplatin in human cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of compound 3 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.