Gas Phase Reaction of Tetrachlorogermane with Conjugated Dienes in the Presence of Hexachlorodisilane Initiator

Studies of the reaction of GeCl₄ with acyclic conjugated dienes (1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3- butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene) and cyclopentadiene in the presence of Si₂Cl₆ initiator were carried out. With acyclic dienes, corresponding 1,1-dichloro-1-germacyclo-3-pentenes and 1,1-dichloro-1-silacyclo-3- pentenes are preferrably formed. With cyclopentadiene the main reaction products are cyclopentenyltrichlorogermanes and cyclopentenyltrichlorosilanes formed respectively by hydrogermylation and hydrosilylation of the starting diene. The explanation of the established rule is offered.