La décomposition du tétraméthylgermane par les atomes Hg 6(3P1)
The primary process in the mercury photosensitized decomposition of tetramethylgermane is a C—H bond cleavage. The hydrogen quantum yield, extrapolated at infinite pressure, is close to unity. Under mild conditions, hydrogen and 1,2-di(trimethylgermyl) ethane are the only products observed. At high intensities and low substrate pressures, atomic cracking occurs yielding methyl radicals which lead to the formation of methane.