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

Abstract 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 va...

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Main Authors: Haifeng Chen, Cai Zhai, Huabing Zhang, Chen Zhu, Magnus Rueping
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62141-x
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author Haifeng Chen
Cai Zhai
Huabing Zhang
Chen Zhu
Magnus Rueping
author_facet Haifeng Chen
Cai Zhai
Huabing Zhang
Chen Zhu
Magnus Rueping
author_sort Haifeng Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc6a450c20a045ecb181117dd122b683
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-bc6a450c20a045ecb181117dd122b6832025-08-20T03:46:20ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62141-xSwitchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formationHaifeng Chen0Cai Zhai1Huabing Zhang2Chen Zhu3Magnus Rueping4KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Ningbo Institute of Digital Twin, Eastern Institute of TechnologyKAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Ningbo Institute of Digital Twin, Eastern Institute of TechnologyKAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Abstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62141-x
spellingShingle Haifeng Chen
Cai Zhai
Huabing Zhang
Chen Zhu
Magnus Rueping
Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
Nature Communications
title Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
title_full Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
title_fullStr Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
title_full_unstemmed Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
title_short Switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective C(sp3)-Ge bond formation
title_sort switchable electrochemical pathways for the selective c sp3 ge bond formation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62141-x
work_keys_str_mv AT haifengchen switchableelectrochemicalpathwaysfortheselectivecsp3gebondformation
AT caizhai switchableelectrochemicalpathwaysfortheselectivecsp3gebondformation
AT huabingzhang switchableelectrochemicalpathwaysfortheselectivecsp3gebondformation
AT chenzhu switchableelectrochemicalpathwaysfortheselectivecsp3gebondformation
AT magnusrueping switchableelectrochemicalpathwaysfortheselectivecsp3gebondformation