alkyl groups r 4 is a linear or branched c 1 c 6 alkyl or aryl group x is a c 1 c 3 alkyl group or phenyl and n is 0 or 1 the trialkylgermylalkyne compound can be added independently to the reaction mixture although in a preferred embodiment it is initially mixed with the silylalkyne monomer and the mixture added to the catalyst and solvent system the minimum germylalkyne concentration which must be added to significantly increased polymerization rate and monomer conversion is very low i e about 0 1 mole based on total alkyne concentration increasing the germylalkyne concentration increases both the polymerization rate and conversion although maximum conversion i e 100 is reached at relatively lwo concentrations typically less than 5 mole additionally the germylalkyne compound is incorporated into the polymer chain and if the resultant polymer is to be predominantly a poly silylalkyne polymer rather than a copolymer the amount of germylalkyne additive should be kept low the exact mechanicism by which the trialkylgermylalkyne compound accelerates polymerization and increases monomer conversion has not yet been fully determined without being bound by theory however it is believed that the first step in group v or vib metal halide promoted trialkylsilylyne polymerization is the combination of monomer with one molar equivalent of metal to form a highly reactive intermediate this intermediate then reacts further with remaining monomer to form the polymer chain certain monomer.