Highly conjugated, substituted polyacetylenes via the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of substituted cyclooctatetraenes

Abstract
Communication: Soluble polyacetylenes with high conjugation length and high molecular weight are a goal of polymer scientists. The ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of substituted cyclooctatetraenes (COT) to form soluble substituted polyacetylenes which display iodine doped conductivities in the range 0.1 to 50 S/cm are reported. The solubility is imparted by the alkyl groups which occupy, on average, every eighth carbon atom of the polymer backbone.