Patent ID: 7449588

Claim:
A method of stabilizing thiophene derivatives comprising: (a) providing a thiophene derivative of the general formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represents a moiety selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-20 alkyl groups which can contain up to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur, optionally substituted C 1-20 oxyalkyl groups which can contain up to 5 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur, or wherein R 1 and R 2 together represent a fused cyclic moiety selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 1-20 dioxyalkylene groups and C 1-20 dioxyarylene groups; and (b) treating the thiophene derivative with a basic compound.