New poly(aryleneethynylene)s and poly(arylene)s were synthesized start
ing from new dibromoaromatic compounds bearing bulky phenyl and hetero
cyclic substituents via Pd- and Ni-catalyzed polycondensation reaction
s. The resulting polymers are highly soluble in amide solvents and sho
w a limited solubility in CHCl3. The optical, thermal, and hydrodynami
c properties of these polymers were studied.