Structure and physicochemical properties of the aldol and vinylene forms of poly(2,5‐heteroarylenevinylene)s

AbstractWe determined the structure and physicochemical properties of poly(2,5‐furylenevinylene), poly(2,5‐thienylenevinylene) and poly(2,5‐furylene‐co‐2,5‐thienylenevinylene) that were synthesized via aldol polycondensation. Two kinds of polymer were obtained, one with mainly aldol and one with mainly vinylene structure units. The former are soluble in water, and the latter insoluble in water and only slightly soluble in organic solvents. The aldol polymers can be transformed to vinylene polymers by thermal dehydration. The d.c. conductivities at room temperature are of the order of 10−12 and 10−8 S/cm for the aldol and vinylene forms, respectively.