One-Shot Deprotonative Metalation/Transmetalation/Polymerization of Halothiophenes Catalyzed by Nickel Complex for Polythiophene Synthesis.

Effect of divalent metals was studied in the cross-coupling polymerization of thiophenes leading to head-to-tail-type poly-3-hexyl-thiophene. Deprotonation of the C–H bond at the 5-position of 2-halo-3-hexylthiophene by LDA followed by metal exchange was carried out in one pot and following addition of nickel catalyst underwent polymerization. One-shot reaction involving deprotonation/transmetalation/ cross coupling polymerization was also examined with manganese(II) chloride and nickel(II) catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]