Bimolecular reactions of alkyl halides and acylgermanes: Formation of ketones, diketones, and other products by radical-radical reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(96)06677-6

Reactions of alkyl halides (R¹X) with acyltriphenylgermanes (R²COGePh₃) under radical conditions provide mixtures of ketones (R¹COR²), diketones (R²COCOR²), alkanes (R¹H) and alkenes. These products arise from radical-radical reactions, and the results suggest that bimolecular addition reactions of alkyl radicals to acylgermanes are too slow to propagate radical chains.