Carbonization of methylene-bridged aromatic oligomers—Effect of alkyl substituents Original Research Article

Methylene-bridged oligomers were prepared from naphthalene, tetralin, biphenyl, and their alkyl-substituted homologues and carbonized under an atmospheric pressure. The carbonization properties of oligomers were improved by alkyl groups to give anisotropic mesophase. The structural changes of the oligomers suggested that radicals formed from alkyl groups would accelerate the condensation reactions of oligomers and that the conversion of alkyl carbons, as well as methylene carbons, into aromatic carbons resulted in growth of the aromatic systems.