Polymerization mechanism of alpha,alpha '-bis (tetrahydrothiophenio)p-xylene dichloride

A experimental study was performed regarding the influence of the base natu re and solvent on the reactive intermediate concentration in the base-promo ted bissulfonium salts polymerization, Such polymerization reaction is part of a synthetic procedure used to prepare conjugated polymers. In addition, a theoretical study suggest that a one-electron transfer could be involved in the initiation step.