Synthesis of Poly(phenylenebutadiynylenes) Using the Decarboxylative Coupling of Propiolic Acid and Aryl Iodides

Conjugated random copolymers containing phenylene­butadiynylenes and phenyleneethynylenes were synthesized from the palladium- and copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction of propiolic acid with aryl iodides. This one-step synthetic approach provides a facile route to conjugated polymers whose synthesis typically requires a multistep conversion of the starting diiodoarenes into diacetylenes prior to polymerization.