From Quaternary Carbon to Tertiary C(sp3)–Si and C(sp3)–Ge Bonds: Decyanative Coupling of Malononitriles with Chlorosilanes and Chlorogermanes Enabled by Ni/Ti Dual Catalysis

Transition-metal-catalyzed C–Si/Ge cross-coupling offers promising avenues for the synthesis of organosilanes/organogermanes, yet it is fraught with long-standing challenges. A Ni/Ti-catalyzed strategy is reported here, allowing the use of disubstituted malononitriles as tertiary C(sp 3 ) coupling partners to couple with chlorosilanes and chlorogermanes, respectively. This method enables the catalytic cleavage of the C(sp 3 )–CN bond of the quaternary carbon followed by the formation of C(sp 3 )–Si/C(sp 3 )–Ge bonds from ubiquitously available starting materials. The efficiency and generality are showcased by a broad scope for both of the coupling partners, therefore holding the potential to synthesize structurally diverse quaternary organosilanes and organogermanes that were difficult to access previously.