Oxidation reactions germanium polymers

For the polymerization, either in the melt or solid phase, the reaction is driven to the polymer by removing ethylene glycol. The polymerization reaction is typically catalyzed by solutions consisting of antimony trioxide or germanium oxide. Both polycondensation catalysts also catalyze the reverse reaction, which is driven by an excess of ethylene glycol at melt conditions, generally above 255 °C. The polymerization reaction follows second-order kinetics with an activation energy of 22 000 cal/mol [6],... 

On the whole, pure metals are the most resistant of all materials to radiation damage and recover most easily, presumably because the atoms in metals are most mobile. But reactions like those in metals have been found in valence compounds such as diamond, silicon and germanium, and in simple salts and oxides such as sodium chloride and beryllium oxide. On the other hand, organic materials, particularly polymers such as plastics, are exceedingly sensitive to radiation and suffer permanent and irreparable changes. In these cases the damage is associated with the breaking of chemical bonds which are diffi-... 

D/ef/iy/germanium oxide may also be made by hydrolyzing (C2H5)2GeCl2 prepared from Ge by the direct reaction of C2H5CI102. The hydrolysis product is an oily mixture of polymers, less soluble in water than (CH3)2GeO but decidedly soluble. 

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