Oxidation-reduction alternating copolymerization of germylene and N-phenyl-p-quinoneimine

Germylenes (1a and 1b) reacted with p-quinoneimine (2) to give copolymers (3a and 3b) having a tetravalent germanium unit and a p-aminophenol unit, alternatively. The copolymerization took place at 0°C smoothly without added catalyst or initiator. 1 acted as a reductant monomer whereas 2 as an oxidant monomer (oxidation-reduction alternating copolymerization). Soluble copolymers were obtained in very high yields, having high molecular weight. ESR spectroscopic studies of the reaction suggested a structure of stable germyl radical and a biradical copolymerization mechanism.