GeX2·dioxane (X = Cl, Br) complexes insert completely into CBr4 to afford the sterically crowded cluster compounds (BrCl2Ge)4C (1) and (Br3Ge)4C (2) in 80% and 95% yields, respectively. These display physical, spectroscopic, and structural properties that are indicative of highly symmetric molecules with a remarkably strained carbon center. Compounds 1 and 2 react with LiAlH4 to produce the hydrides (H3Ge)3CH (3) and (H3Ge)4C (4) which are readily identified and characterized by spectroscopic methods and gas-phase electron diffraction. Compound 3 is also conveniently prepared from the LiAlH4 reduction of (GeBr3)3CH (5) which in turn is obtained by insertion of GeBr2·dioxane into the C−Br bonds of bromoform. Refinement of the diffraction data for 3 confirmed a model of C3 symmetry, with local C3v symmetry of the GeH3 groups, and gave a Ge−C bond length of 1.96 A. The structure refinement of 4 was based on a model of T symmetry and displayed a rather normal Ge−C bond distance of 1.97 A, which is substantial...