gem-Silylborylation approach for tri- and tetrametalmethanes: the first synthesis of boryl(germyl)(silyl)(stannyl)methanes

gem-Silylborylation of halomethyllithiums with silylboranes allows us to prepare boryl(silyl)methanes substituted by such heteroatoms as Cl, Br, I, O, S, Si, Ge, and Sn in high yields. With B, Si, and Sn- or B, Ge, and Si-substituted methanes, the first synthesis of B, Ge, Si, and Sn-substituted methanes was achieved via deprotonation of the trimetalated methane followed by germylation with Me3GeCl or stannylation with Bu3SnCl, respectively.