Carbonaceous materials from end-capped alkynes Original Research Article

A series of terminally protected alkyne derivatives iPr3Si–(CC)n–Si iPr3, n=2, 3, 4, 6 was prepared by the Hay oxidative coupling. The longest oligoyne chain was in 1,12-bis-(triisopropylsilyl)-1,3,5,7,9,11-dodecahexayne (V), that is a new substance exhibiting reasonable stability even in the solid state (m.p. 112.5°C). The prepared oligoynes were studied by UV–Vis, Raman, FTIR, 13C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The corresponding de-protected free alkynes polymerized spontaneously in n-hexane solution at room or sub-room temperatures towards new carbonaceous materials, which were characterized analytically and spectroscopically.