Upon ultraviolet irradiation of thin films of linear polygermanes in a
ir, the germanium-germanium bond in thin films of polygermanes changed
into digermoxane chains. The laser flash photolysis of the linear pol
ygermane films showed the formation of polygermyl radicals generated b
y germanium-germanium bond homolysis as reactive intermediates during
photodegradation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.