Rapid bi-directional synthesis of oligo(1,4-phenylene ethynylene)s

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00463-3

A new method for the preparation of oligo(1,4-phenylene ethynylene)s is described. Only two sets of reaction conditions are needed for the entire iterative synthetic sequence: (1) Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of trimethylsilylacetylene with an aryl halide and (2) in situ desilylation/Pd- catalyzed coupling with an aryl iodide. This method provides a fast synthetic route to short length oligo(1,4-phenylene ethynylene)s by oligomer growth at both ends.