The Gilch Synthesis of Poly(p-phenylene vinylenes): Mechanistic Knowledge in the Service of Advanced Materials.

A consistent picture is presented of the mechanistic details and intermediates of the Gilch polymerization leading to poly(p-phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs). In-situ generated p-quinodimethanes are shown to be the real monomers, and spontaneous formation of the initiating radicals is effected by dimerization of some of these monomers to dimer diradicals, the latter also being the reason why significant amounts of [2.2]paracyclophanes are formed as side-products.