METAL-CATALYZED COUPLING REACTIONS IN THE SYNTHESIS OF NEW CONDUCTINGPOLYMERS

The use of transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions in the synthe sis of conducting polymers is discussed. These reactions are of growin g importance in polymer synthesis and are particularly important in th e synthesis of highly functionalized conjugated (conducting) polymers. In this report we discuss applications of this methodology for the sy nthesis of conducting polymer sensory materials and polymers with reac tive functional groups. In the sensory polymers we have incorporated c rown ether groups which induce perturbations to the polymer's electron ic structure when exposed to an alkali metal ion. Our interest in poly mers with reactive functional groups is for the development of polymer s which can be transformed into novel all-carbon ladder polymers.