Organogermane homopolymers and copolymers with organosilane

The first high molecular weight soluble, formable organogermane homopolymer (n‐Bu2Ge)n was synthesized by the sodium coupling of n‐Bu2GeCl2 in toluene. Soluble organogermane/organosilane copolymers [(X2Ge)x(YZSi)y]n were prepared by sodium coupling of X2GeCl2 and YZSiCl2 in different molar ratios (X = n‐bu, Ph; Y = n‐hexyl, cyclohexyl; Z = Me). Germanium‐containing polymers and copolymers with organosilanes are highly absorbing between 300–360 nm, with the absorption maxima dependent on the nature of the substituent and the ratio of X2Ge:YZSi in the polymer. These polymers are photoactive and display bleaching behavior with photoscission.