A New Approach to the Synthesis of Dithienylethanediones and Dithienylacetylenes

1,2-Dithienylethanediones were synthesized by modified acylation of thiophene and its homologs in the presence of aluminum chloride and pyridine. The bishydrazones of the products were converted into dithienylacetylenes by oxidation with atmospheric oxygen in pyridine in the presence of CuCl.