Electrochemical Synthesis of Network Polystannanes

New members of network σ-conjugated polymers, i.e., methyl-, butyl-, octyl-, and phenyl-substituted network polystannanes were synthesized for the first time by electrochemical reduction of methyl-, butyl-, octyl-, and phenyl-trichlorostannanes, respectively. These network polystannanes, as well as the network polysilanes and polygermanes reported by the authors previously, had absorption which extended over 600 nm. They reacted with water just like previously reported linear polystannanes, however, the decomposition rate seemed lower. Thermochromic behavior, similar to those of alkyl-terminated network polysilanes and polygermanes, was also observed.