Electrochemical polymerization of bis(bithienyl)ethanes

Poly(quaterthienyl ethylene) and poly(alkyl-substituted quaterthienyl ethylene) containing quaterthiophene unit in the main chains were synthesized by electrochemical polymerization of 1,2-bis(2,2ʹ-bithiophene-5-yl)ethane and its derivative, respectively. The obtained green films had considerable conductivities, ca. 2 × 10−2 S cm−1, in oxidized states. IR spectra of the neutral films indicated the formation of predominantly linear, α-αʹ linked, chains during polymerization.