An investigation into new methods of synthesising thiophene and thiadiazole precursors for conducting polymers

This thesis describes the synthesis of terthiophene derivatives which are of interest as building block for the preparation of conducting and light emitting polymers. Cyclisations of 1,4-diketones to form the central thiophene ring using phosphorus pentasulfide at room temperature was found to be a successful method for their synthesis. Ring closure to form dithienyl 1,3,4-thiadiazoles was also studied. The electrochemical properties of some of the compounds were investigated, and the structure of one compound was confirmed by x-ray crystallography.