SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(ARYLENE ETHYNE)S

Arylacetylenes are readily formed from the palladium-catalyzed reaction of activated aryl halides (Br or I) with a monosubstituted acetylene. When the aromatic ring of the aryl halide contains an appropriately positioned electron withdrawing group, the reaction is relatively rapid and essentially quantitative. It was thought that this route may constitute a polymer forming reaction. Therefore, activated aromatic dibromides were reacted with aromatic diacetylenes to yield unique polymers containing acetylenic linking groups. The results of preliminary work are reported.