REGIODEFINED SUBSTITUTED POLY(2,5-THIENYLENE)S

The polymerization of 3,3''-dialkylterthiophenes overcomes the lack of regiospecificity associated (to some extent) with all the polymerization methods in use, thus allowing the preparation of perfectly regioregular polymers endowed with enhanced electrical and optical properties. Moreover, the larger spacing of the alkyl chains achieved with the insertion of an unsubstituted thiophene unit confers to such regioregular polymers an extraordinary doping stability. Two regiochemically defined alkoxy-substituted terthiophenes were also polymerized and the effects of the presence and position of the alkoxy group on the polymerization reaction and on the polymer properties are discussed. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.