Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation

The development of efficient and general strategies for constructing alkyl germanes is crucial due to their significant roles in various areas that impact human quality of life. Herein, we report a robust electrochemically driven method for the construction of alkyl germanes, utilizing a variety of functionalized alkyl nitriles and commercially available chlorogermanes. The developed decyanative germylation approach allows for the efficient and modular preparation of a wide range of structurally diverse alkyl germanes under mild reaction conditions. Notably, primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl nitriles are all compatible. Furthermore, a series of natural product and drug-derived substrates undergo smooth late-stage functionalization, yielding the corresponding complex alkyl germanes.