A novel cobalt-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of carbinol derivatives and benzil derivatives has been developed. In the presence of CoI2 as the catalyst and tmphen (3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as the ligand, the corresponding arylated products were obtained from the addition of aryltrimethylgermanes to aromatic aldehydes and arylglyoxals in moderate to excellent yields under air atmosphere.
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