Electropolymerization of crown-annelated bithiophenes

Two crown-annelated bithiophenes in which the external β-positions are linked together by a polyether chain connected via a sulphide linkage have been synthesized. Preliminary investigations of their electrochemical properties shows that they can be straightforwardly electropolymerized into electroactive functional polythiophenes. A first test of their cation-dependent electrochemical behaviour in the presence of lithium cations is also presented.