Soluble alkyl substituted polygermanes: Thermochromic behavior

Abstract

We have prepared a number of high molecular weight, soluble, symmetrical dialkyl substituted germanium homopolymers and germanium‐silicon copolymers. In solution, the absorption of the homopolymers was ∼ 20 nm red shifted from the crossponding silicon derivatives. This was somewhat unexpected based on theoretical predictions and has been rationalized on the basis of conformational arguments. In the solid state, samples of poly(di‐n‐hexylgermane) and poly(di‐n‐octylgermane) are strongly thermochromic. The effect is attributed to the conformational locking of the backbone which is caused by the crystallization of the side groups. In this regard, the germanium derivatives behave similarly to the corresponding silicon polymers, and the convergence of the long wavelength absorptions for both types of polymers is consistent with theoretical predictions. The germanium‐silicon copolymers are also strongly thermochromic, but the long wavelength absorption is somewhat blue shifted (8 nm) from the respective homopolymers. As expected, the new germanium homo and copolymers are quite sensitive to light and readily undergo chain scission to produce lower molecular weight materials. Copyright © 1987 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.