Synthesis of π-conjugated thiophenes starting from substituted 3-oxopropanenitriles via Gewald reaction

This paper describes the synthesis of β-aryl and β-heteroaryl substituted 2-aminothiophenes as a novel class of building blocks in oligo- and polythiophenes. The synthesis was carried out in two steps, involving synthesis of substituted 3-oxopropanenitrile intermediates, followed by the Gewald reaction.