Synthesis of oligo(2,3,5.6-tetramethylphenylene selenide)

It has been reported that poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) and poly(p-phenylene selenide) (PPSe) show high electrical conductivity more than once after doping with acceptor molecules, such as AsF₅ .^1-3 Much attention is also paid to oligo(phenylene selenide) (OPSe) on the conductivity and photoconductivity, as well as those of PPSe. PPSe is usually prepared from p-dichlorobenzene and sodium selenide or the metal salt of p-halo-substituted benzeneselenol under high temperature and high pressure. This paper describes the synthesis of OPSe's with electron-donating substituents through oxidation.