New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers: preparation of poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N '-(o-phenylene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4 '-diyl)] and poly[2,5-(didodecyloxy)phenylene-1,4-diyl-alt-N,N '-(alkylidene)-bis(salicylideneiminato-4,4 '-diyl)]s

New tetradentate Schiff-base polymers, in which phenylene units alternate w ith salicylideneiminato units, have been prepared by condensation of 2,5-(d idodecyloxy)-1,4-bis(3-formyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (DFHB) with appropria te diamines in a mixed solution of CHCL3/toluene/acetic acid with 31-79% yi elds, DFHB as the key building block was prepared by the Suzuki reaction of 2,5-(didodecyloxy)benzene-1,4-diboronic acid with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde i n a two-phase solution of tetrahydrofuran/water in the presence of NaHCO3/P d(PPh3)(4) in 45% yield. The molecular structures of the prepared compounds were identified by spectroscopy. Their absorption spectroscopic profiles h ave been analyzed. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.