Organogermanium polymers prepared from s ‐indacene and carbodiimide compounds

The synthesis of bis‐organogermanium compounds including s ‐indacene structure was described and showed the formation of one type of trans isomer characterized by spectroscopic methods. In the same way, the digermyl‐ s ‐indacene dichlorides were prepared and structural characterizations confirmed the unique formation of trans isomers. These digermyl‐ s ‐indacene dichlorides were used as monomers in a polymerization reaction in order to prepare poly(germyl‐ s ‐indacenes) and poly(germyl‐ s ‐indacene carbodiimides). However, only the products obtained from tetraalkyl‐ s ‐indacene reached high molecular weight, probably due to a minor steric hindrance compared to the hexaalkyl‐ s ‐indacene. Thermal degradation only starts from 250°C for poly(germyl‐ s ‐indacene carbodiimides) and from 350°C for poly(germyl‐ s ‐indacenes). The structures of the first digermyl‐ s ‐indacene dichlorides were determined by X‐ray analysis, confirming that the chlorogermyl groups are located in trans positions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.