New derivatives of poly(isothianaphthene methine) have been synthesized by
a polycondensation reaction of 1,3-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)isothianapht
hene with benzaldehydes in the presence of POCl3. In the para position the
benzaldehydes possesses a liquid crystalline group, which contains a phenyl
cyclohexyl, phenylpyrimidine, or biphenyl moiety. The polymers are characte
rized by IR, UV-vis-NIR, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. All polymers a
re soluble in common organic solvents and display band gaps between 1.2 and
1.3 eV and electrical conductivities in the, range of 10(-4)-10(-5) S/cM u
pon iodine vapor doping.