Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of PhosphorusI
Published on: November 22, 2016
Hydrophosphination using [GeCl{N(SiMe3)2}3] as a pre-catalyst
A N Barrett1, H J Sanderson1, M F Mahon1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. r.l.webster@bath.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Transformations catalyzed by germanium are scarce, with examples mainly limited to widely catalyzed processes such as polymerisation of lactide and hydroboration of carbonyls. Reported is the first example of hydrophosphination using a germanium pre-catalyst, yielding anti-Markovnikov products when diphenylphosphine is reacted with styrenes or internal alkynes at room temperature.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation
Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Acid Halides to Ketones: Gilman Reagent
As shown below, the mechanism proceeds in two steps. First, one of the alkyl groups of the reagent acts as a nucleophile and attacks the acyl carbon of the acid chloride to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen...

