Terthiophene
Terthiophene is the organic compound with the formula 2C4H2S. It is an oligomer of the heterocycle thiophene, a shorter oligomer is dithienyl, and the parent polymer is polythiophene. In the most common isomer of terthiophene, two thienyl groups are connected via their 2 positions to a central thiophene, also at the carbon atoms flanking the sulfur.
Preparation of terthiophene
Terthiophene is prepared by the nickel- or palladium-catalysed coupling reaction of 2,5-dibromothiophene with the Grignard reagent derived from 2-bromothiophene.Properties and applications
This substance is likely responsible for the insecticidal activity of Tagetes minuta as it can react with light and oxygen to make singlet oxygen.Together with derivatives of 2,2'-bithiophene, various chlorinated terthiophenes occur naturally in thistles.
Terthiophene has been employed as building block for the organic semi-conductor polythiophene.