Synthesis of extended α,α′-oligo(silylthiophenes) by cerium(iv) oxidative coupling reactions

Cerium(IV) oxidative dimerisations of 4,4′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,2′:5′,2′′-terthiophene and the quaterthienyl analogue 1c gave the corresponding sexi- and octi-thiophenes; the latter have been used to prepare α-linked hexadecithiophene and tetracosithiophene derivatives.