Haloacetonitrile – GeF4 complexes are prone to structural change in condensed phases. Ge-N bonds are much longer and weaker with FCH2CN and ClCH2CN in place of CH3CN. Ge-N potentials for FCH2CN–GeF4 and ClCH2CN–GeF4 change shape in dielectric media. The Ge-N bonds for (FCH2CN)2–GeF4 compress by about 0.3 Å upon solidification. IR spectra of nitrile/GeF4 films convey structural changes in the solid 2:1 complexes.