Recent advances in group 14 cross-coupling: Si and Ge-based alternatives to the Stille reaction

The last fifteen years have seen the Pd-catalysed cross-coupling of organosilanes and organogermanes developed to the point where organosilane cross-couplings in particular are emerging as viable and attractive alternatives to the Stille and Suzuki reactions. In this review, the development of these group 14 cross-coupling reactions is overviewed and the current state-of-the-art assessed. Moreover, some mechanistic considerations are presented that, it is hoped, may encourage efforts to overcome remaining challenges in this important area.