New synthetic routes to polyacenes

A new synthetic method toward the preparation of polyacene-type polymers is presented. The new route involves condensation polymerisation of 2,5-funct ionalised-1,4-bis(alkoxymethyl)benzenes via acid catalysed reactions. Ladde r-type polymers with bromo-substituents have been obtained and characterise d by gel permeation chromatography as well as spectroscopic and thermogravi metric methods. Preliminary studies revealed a certain degree of aromatisat ion in the precursor polymers prior to oxidation reactions.