Synthesis of polymers based on ethyl ketals of 4,4′-diacetyldiphenyl oxide and 5-acetylacenaphthene and their dehydrogenation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyan-1,4-benzoquinone

Oligophenylenes containing various amounts of acenaphthenyl groups are synthesized by copolycyclocondensation of ethyl ketals of 4,4′-diacetyldiphenyl oxide, 5-acetylacenaphthene, and acetophenone. Treatment of these with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyance 1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) under conditions obtaining in model reactions for the dehydrogenation of acenephthene to acenaphthylene and transformation of 1,3,5-tris-(5′-acenaphthenyl)benzene into 1,3,5,-tris-(5′-acenaphylenyl)benzene results in the formation of oligophenylenes containing acenaphthylenyl groups (OAL), some of these groups apparently existing in the form of π-complexes with DDQ. Some thermal characteristics of OAL samples structurized at 200–300°C are indicated.