Patent ID: 7053174

Claim:
A process for preparing polythiophenes comprising (1) reacting (a) one or more thiophenes of the general formula (I) wherein R 1 is an unsubstituted or substituted alkylene or an alkenylene radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R and R 2 , independently of one another, are hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, OH, O—CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —SO 3 H or O-alkyl having 1–18 carbon atoms, (b) at least one compound containing one or more sulfonic acid groups, (c) at least one oxidant selected from the group consisting of alkali metal peroxodisulfate, ammonium peroxodisulfate and alkali metal percarbonate, (d) at least one phase-transfer catalyst, and (e) optionally one or more catalysts, other than the at least one phase-transfer catalyst (d) with (f) at least one anhydrous or low-water-content solvent at a temperature ranging from 0 to about 150° C., thereby forming a product, and (2) subsequently working up the product.