Subvalent mixed Si x Ge y oligomers: (Cl 3 Si) 4 Ge and Cl 2 (Me 2 EtN)SiGe(SiCl 3 ) 2

(Cl 3 Si) 4 Ge (1; 91%) is accessible from GeCl 4 , the Si 2 Cl 6 /[ n Bu 4 N]Cl silylation system, and excess SiCl 4 . A key intermediate step involves Cl − sequestration with AlCl 3 in the course of the reaction between the first-formed germanide [(Cl 3 Si) 3 Ge] − and SiCl 4 . The related adduct Cl 2 (Me 2 EtN)SiGe(SiCl 3 ) 2 (2; quantitative conversion) was prepared either by amine-induced cleavage of 1 or by a bottom-up synthesis starting from GeCl 4 and Si 2 Cl 6 .