C-F activation reactions at germylium ions: dehydrofluorination of fluoralkanes

Reactions of the trityl cations with germanes afford the germylium ions [R 3 Ge][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] ( 1a : R = Et, 1b : R = Ph, 1c : R = n Bu). These compounds react with germane or fluorogermane to give polynuclear species, which are sources of the mononuclear ions, The latter convert with phosphines to yield the [R 3 Ge-PR 3 ] + ( 4a : R = Et, 4b : R = Ph) cations. Catalytic dehydrofluorination reactions were observed for the C-F bond activation of fluoroalkanes when using germanes as hydrogen source. The germylium ions [GeR 3 ] + catalyze dehydrodefluorination reactions of fluorinated alkanes when germanes are used as hydrogen source.