Synthesis, structure, and information about molecular weight of thiophene homopolymers, copolymers of 2,5-thienylene and 2,4-thienylene, and their soluble nitrates

Dehalogenative homopolymerization and copolymerization of 2,5-dibromothiophene and 2,4-dibromothiophene were carried out by using a Ni(II) complex catalyst. Nitration of the polymers gave soluble nitrated polymers which provided information about the degree of polymerization (DP = 58-88) of the original polymers. Chemical properties of the polymers and their nitrates are reported.