Poly(para-arylene)s via [2+2+2]

We report a versatile new synthetic route to poly(para-phenylene)s (PPPs) and related poly(para-arylene)s containing high degrees of substitution not readily available by other methods. Our method transforms highly soluble, alkyne-containing polymers into PPPs via high-yielding, transition metal-mediated [2+2+2] cyclizations.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant DMR-1005810