Reductive cross-coupling provides
facile access to organogermanes,
but it remains largely unexplored. Herein we report a nickel-catalyzed
reductive Csp3–Ge coupling of alkyl bromides with
chlorogermanes. This work has established a new method for producing
alkylgermanes. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions and
tolerates various functionalities including ether, alcohol, alkene,
nitrile, amine, ester, phosphonates, amides, ketone, and aldehyde.
The application of this method to the modification of bioactive molecules
is demonstrated.