Synthesis, photochemical and conducting properties of oligo(digermanylene-phenylene)s and related compounds

Oligo(digermanylene-phenylene)s and related oligomers were prepared by trea tment of di-Grignard reagents of the corresponding aryl dibromides with 1,2 -dichlorotetramethyldigermane. Upon ultraviolet irradiation of films of oli go(digermanylene-phenylene) and related oligomer in air, the germanium-germ anium bond in the oligomer films changed into a digermoxane chain probed by XPS. The laser flash photolysis of the oligo(digermanylene-phenylene) film showed the formation of an oligogermyl radical as a reactive intermediate during photodegradation. Iodine doping of the oligomers showed the conducti vities of the order of 10(-4) S cm(-1) (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.