Polygermoxanes suitable for biochemical purposes: II Linear trigermoxanes (high-viscosity oils)

Linear trigermoxanes, R¹ RGeOGe(R³)₂OGeRR¹, a new series of organogermanium compounds, were synthesized by reaction of a lithium organogermanolate with a suitable organogermanium dihalide. With alkyl or phenyl substituents, these trigermoxanes are structurally unstable viscous oils, due to redistribution reactions. When R³ substituents are bulky groups, such as mesityl, trigermoxanes are thermally and structurally stable oils; depending on the R¹ and R² substituents their viscosities lie in the range 240 to more than 1500 cPo (mPa s) at 20°C. When both terminal germanium atoms are substituted with two mesityl groups, trigermoxanes are stable glassy solids.