Microwave-assisted Lewis acid catalysis: Application to the synthesis of alkyl- or arylhalogermanes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00018a050

Under microwave irradiation, alkyl- or arylhalogermanes R_nGeX_4-n (R = Et, Bu, Ph; X = Cl, Br) are obtained by redistribution reactions of R₄Ge with GeX₄. These experimental conditions permit the synthesis of such compounds in good yield in a few minutes at atmospheric pressure. The direct Friedel-Crafts germylation of benzene and toluene by germanium tetrachloride also has been performed, but yields were low.