Structure of 2-methyl-3-phenyl-3-[(tri-p-tolyl)germyl] propanoic acid, (p-CH3C6H4)3GeCH(Ph)CH(Me)CO2H. CHCl3

In the title compound, one molecule of CHCl3, is also present in each asymmetric unit. The germanium adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry [C-Ge-C: 106.5(1) - 111.7(1)degrees]. experimental error [1.951(3) - 1.955(3) Angstrom], however Ge-C(22) of the substituted propanoic acid is significantly longer [1.997(3) Angstrom]. The molecule dimerises through hydrogen bonds between carboxylic acid groups, in a conventional Manner. The hydrogen bor.d is relatively strong [O(1)...O(2'): 2.661(2); H(2A)-O(1'): 1.81(4) Angstrom; <O(2)-H(2A)-O(1): 161(4) °] and delocalisation of the double-bond character renders the two C-O bond lengths indistinguishable [C(31)-O(1): 1.255(4); C(31)-O(2): 1.260(4) &ANGS;]. The mode of dimerisation thus contrasts with the situation in the related species Cl3GeC(Ph)CH2CO2H where chlorine atoms act as the hydrogen bond acceptors. The solvent (CHCl) is loosely associatecl with the carboxylic acid group [H(32)... 0(2): O(2): 2.53 &ANGS;] though this length, along with <C(32)-H(32)...O(2) (129.5degrees), rules out any meaningful hydrogen bond.