Preparations and properties of polymers containing 3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]-1,2-di(2-thienyl)cyclobutene moieties

Reaction of 1,8-bis[5-{(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinoethynyl}-2-thienyl]octane with butyllithium followed by treatment with 1,2-dibromoethane afforded a new polymer containing 3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]-1,2-di(2-thienyl)cyclobutene units. The polymer was allowed to react with bis(benzonitrile)dichloropalladium to give the polymer complex. A Sonogashira coupling reaction between ethynyltrimethylsilane and 4-bromonitrobenzene proceeded in DMF at 100 °C to give 4-nitro(trimethylsilylethynyl)benzene in the presence of the polymer complex, CuI, and triethylamine.