Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(carbonates) and Poly(thiocarbonates) Derived from Diphenols Containing Germanium as a Central Atom

Poly(carbonates) and poly(thiocarbonates), containing germanium in the main chain and derived from the diphenols bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐dimethyl‐germane, bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐diethyl‐germane, and bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐dibutyl‐germane reaction with phosgene and thiophosgene, respectively. The products were synthesized under phase transfer conditions, using two phase transfer catalysts. The products were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The results were evaluated by the yields and ηinh values which showed different behaviors for poly(carbonates) and poly(thiocarbonates). The yields and the ηinh values for the poly(carbonates) were low due to a hydrolytic process when the NaOH concentration was increased. For the poly(thiocarbonates) the phase transfer was effective and also there was an increase of both parameters when the NaOH concentration was increased, due to a salting out effect.