The germanium(II) center of dicationic compound 1 donates an electron pair to transition metal Ag(I) and Au(I) cations, leading to complexes 2 and 3 respectively. Complex 3 is stabilized by [Ge:]²⁺→Au(I) σ-donation and π-back donation from filled d-orbitals of Au(I) to the two sets of p-orbitals available on Ge(II) centers.

Bis(chlorogermyliumylidene) has been obtained within a bis(α-iminopyridine), where the [GeCl]⁺ units conduce elusive reductive cyclization maintaining high stereoselectivity.