Photochemical Reactions of Aryltriethylgermanes and Diethyldiphenylgermane

Abstract Aryltriethylgermanes and diethyldiphenylgermane were found to split easily to generate germyl radicals by irradiation with a medium-pressure mercury lamp in hexane or cyclohexane. The germyl free radicals produced reacted with hydrocarbon radicals generated from the solvent by hydrogen abstraction either by recombination or by disproportionation.