Germanium dioxide in the presence of 5% KOH reacted with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) at 250 degreesC to give (MeO)(4)Ge. The reaction of GeO2 and DMC is similar to that reported for SiO2; however, the rate of reaction for germanium is much higher than that of the corresponding silicon reaction. In a side-by-side experiment using SiO2 and GeO2 where the surface area of the silicon dioxide was 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of the GeO2, the base-catalyzed reaction with DMC was about an order of magnitude higher for the germanium dioxide. When GeO2 and 5% KOH were reacted with DMC at 350degreesC, two products formed: (MeO)(4)Ge (70%) and MeGe(OMe)(3) (30%). Confirmation of the identity of MeGe(OMe)(3) was by GCMS, H-1 and C-13 NMR, and comparison to an authentic sample made by reaction of MeGeCl3 with NaOMe. Experiments to determine the mechanism of the direct formation of Ge-C from GeO2 ruled out participation from CO, H-2, or carbon. The KOH-catalyzed reaction of other metal oxides was explored including B2O3, Ga2O3, TiO2, Sb2O3, SnO2, and SnO. Boron reacted to give unknown volatile products. Antimony reacted to give a solid which analyzed as Sb(OMe)(3). SnO reacted with DMC to give a mixture that included (MeO)(4)Sn and possibly Me3Sn(OMe).