The Synthesis of Arylketones via Friedel-Crafts Acyldegermylation

Electron-rich and electron-neutral aryl trialkylgermanes are shown to be competent precursors to aryl ketones via FriedelCrafts acyldegermylation. Given the previously demonstrated greater stability towards basic/nucleophilic conditions of arylgermanes as compared to arylsilanes/stannanes, these reactions significantly expand the utility of group 14 acyldemetalation in synthesis. This is exemplified by the cleavage of Ge-based linker models for solid-phase synthesis (SPS).