| Abstract: | The similarity of the π-electron backbones of the polyenes and the polydiacetylenes suggests an analogy between these two fully conjugated, linear polymers. The extent of the analogy is discussed through the examination of a series of model compounds: the polyenes and the polyenynes. The optical band gaps and the polarizabilities of polyenynes are compared to those of the polyenes and to the predictions of a modified free-electron model. It is concluded that the chain-dependent electronic properties of the polyenes may be extrapolated with some confidence to the polydiacetylenes. |
