Arylchlorogermanes/TBAF/"moist" toluene: a promising combination for Pd-catalyzed Germyl-Stille cross-coupling.

The trichlorophenyl,- dichlorodiphenyl,- and chlorotriphenylgermanes undergo Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings with aryl bromides and iodides in the presence of TBAF in toluene with addition of the measured amount of water. One chloride ligand on the Ge center allows efficient activation by fluoride to promote transfer of one, two, or three phenyl groups from the organogermane precursors.