Photochemical decomposition of a new ring system containing one germanium atom: peralkyl-1-germa-2,3,4-trisilacyclobutanes

Photolysis of members, a new four-membered ring system containing one germanium atom, peralkylgermatrisilacyclobutanes, [R2Si]3Ge(CH2SiMe3)2(R = Pri, ButCH2), was found to afford the cyclotrisilane with extrusion of germylene (germanediyl).