Triorganogermanes as non-toxic reagents in radical reactions

Tributyltin hydride (TBTH) has proven to be an extremely useful synthetic reagent which has been widely used for generating free radicals, is largely responsible for the large increase in the use of free radicals in organic synthesis and is the reagent of choice for many researchers. However, the tin residues are highly toxic and difficult to separate from reaction mixtures which precludes the use of tributyltin hydride in the pharmaceutical industry. In this project, triorganogermanium compounds have been investigated as possible alternatives to tin-based radical mediators. [Continues.]