Naphthobipyrrole: versatile synthesis and electropolymerization.

A facile synthetic route to a new polycyclic pyrrole derivative, 3,8-diethyl-1,10-dihydro-benzo[e]pyrrolo[3,2-g]indole (1), is reported. This annulated bipyrrole acts as a monomer for electropolymerization and forms an electrochromic conducting polymer (poly1) when electrooxidized at low potentials (0.4 V vs Ag/Ag(+)) in acetonitrile.