ELECTROCHEMICAL STEPWISE SYNTHESIS OF POLY[2,5-(SILANYLENE)THIOPHENE]PRECURSORS

The easy control of the electrochemical parameters involved in the int ensiostatic sacrificial anode technique was applied to the stepwise sy nthesis of silanylene-2,5-thiophenylene backbones with high selectivit y and versatility not accessible by purely chemical routes. 2,5-Bis(ch lorodiorganosilyl)thiophenes and related linear poly[2,5-(silanylene)t hiophene] oligomers with one to three silicon atoms were synthesized b y electrochemical reduction of 2,5-dibromo- or 2,5-dichlorothiophene i n the presence of a diorganodichlorosilane.