Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.135, No.33, 12208-12211, 2013
Murahashi Coupling Polymerization: Nickel(II)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex-Catalyzed Polycondensation of Organolithium Species of (Hetero)arenes
Revisiting Murahashi coupling, we found that it effectively allows polymerization of lithiated (hetero)arenes by nickel(II)-catalyzed polycondensation. Deprotonative polymerization of 2-chloro-3-substituted thiophene with n-butyllithium gave head-to-tail-type poly(3-substituted thiophene). Poly(1,4-arylene)s were obtained by the reaction of the corresponding dibromides through lithium bromine exchange. A lithiated thiophene derivative obtained via deprotonative halogen dance also underwent polymerization to afford a bromo-substituted polythiophene.