New synthetic routes to polyacenes

A new synthetic method toward the preparation of polyacene-type polymers is presented, The new route involvescondensation polymerisation of 2,5-functionalised-1,4-bis(alko5cymethyl)benzenes via acid catalysed reactions. Ladder-type polymers with bromosubstituents have been obtained and characterised by gel permeation chromatography as well as spectroscopic and thermogravimetric methods. Preliminary studies revealed a certain degree of aromatisation in the precursor polymers prior to oxidation reactions.