Synthesis and properties of germanium-containing poly(diphenylacetylenes)

Abstract

1-Phenyl-2-[m-(trimethylgermyl)phenyl]acetylene (m-Me3GeDPA) and 1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylgermyl)phenyl]acetylene (p-Me3GeDPA) polymerized with TaCl3-cocatalyst systems to provide in high yields new polymers having weight-average molecular weights over 1 × 106. Poly(m-Me3GeDPA) was a yellow solid, which completely dissolved in toluene, chloroform, etc., to form a tough film by solution casting. Poly(p-Me3GeDPA) was also a yellow solid and partly insoluble in any solvents. The onset temperatures of weight loss for these polymers in the thermogravimetric analysis in air were as high as ca. 400°C. The oxygen permeability coefficient of poly(m-Me3GeDPA) was 1100 barrers (25°C), which is about twice that of poly(dimethylsiloxane). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.