β-terthiophene aldehyde and phosphonate:: key building blocks for the synthesis of functionalised conducting polymers

A simple and efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of beta -functionalised terthiophene monomers, conducting polymer precursors. Using a building block approach, the key materials, beta -terthiophene aldehyde and phosphonate, were constructed with Suzuki chemistry. Reactions of these building blocks with the appropriate coupling partner under Wittig/Horner-Emmons conditions provides conjugatively-linked functionalised monomers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.