Reduction of organic halides with tri-2-furylgermane: Stoichiometric and catalytic reduction

Tri-2-furylgermane proved to be an effective reagent for the radical reduction of organic halides. Treatment of 1-bromododecane with tri-2-furylgermane in THF at 25 degreesC in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylborane afforded dodecane almost quantitatively. Radical cyclization of 2-iodoethanal allyl acetal afforded five-membered products under the same reaction conditions. These reactions proceeded with NaBH4 in the presence of a catalytic amount of germanium hydride. The reaction took place in water as well as in THF to give the corresponding reduced compounds in good yields.