Silylborates (Li [Ph n Me3-n SiBPh3], n= 1-3) and germylborates (Li [Ph n Me3-n GeBPh3], n= 1-3; M [Et3GeBPh3], M= Li, Na, K) were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding silyl-and germylalkali metals with triphenylborane, and their structures were established by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. The photochemical reactions of silyl-and germylborates were investigated by chemical trapping experiments and the CIDEP ...