PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON-TRANSFER REACTION B ETWEEN HEXAMETHYLDIGERMANE AND QUINONE

The mechanism and intermediates of photoinduced electron-transfer reac tion from hexamethyldigermane to 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone were st udied at room temperature by means of a CIDNP technique. After irradia tion, only trimethylgermyl chloride was confirmed by GC, GC-MS, H-1-NM R spectra. However, the absorptive CIDNP signals for ring and hydroxyl -H of 4-(trimethylgermyloxy) phenol were observed during irradiation. The observed CIDNP phase indicates that the reaction intermediate is h examethyldigermane cation radical rather than trimethylgermyl radical. These results suggest the instability of the cation radical.