Compounds containing 3,4-methylenedioxythiophene units

1 . Neutral compound comprising identical or different repeating units of formula (I) and optionally comprising identical or different repeating units of formula (II):

wherein

R 1 and R 2 independently of one another denote H, a linear or branched, optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, optionally interrupted by 1 to 5 oxygen and/or sulfur atoms, a partially fluorinated or a perfluorinated, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1 -C 20 oxyalkyl group, an optionally substituted C 6 -C 24 aryl group, an optionally substituted C 6 -C 24 alkylaryl group, an optionally substituted C 6 -C 24 oxyaryl group or an optionally substituted C 2 -C 24 heteroaryl group or together denote an optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 alkylene group, optionally interrupted by 1 to 5 oxygen and/or sulfur atoms, a C 1 -C 20 dioxyalkylene group, a C 6 -C 30 dialkylenearylene group or a C 6 -C 24 dioxyarylene group,

X 1 denotes an optionally substituted vinylidene, arylidene or a hetarylidene unit,

the number of repeating units of formula (I) is n and the number of repeating units of formula (II) is m, wherein

n denotes an integer from 1 to 1000 and

m denotes an integer from 0 to 1000,

with the proviso that m+n is at least 2,

and the compound has terminal groups R 3 and R 4 , wherein

R 3 and R 4 independently of one another denote H, a linear or branched C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a partially fluorinated or a perfluorinated, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1 -C 20 oxyalkyl group, an optionally substituted C 6 -C 24 aryl group, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 alkylaryl group, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 oxyaryl group or an optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 heteroaryl group.

2 . Compound according to claim 1 , which comprises repeating units of formula (I) in a proportion of at least 10 mole %.

3 . Compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and/or R 2 denotes H.

4 . Compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 and R 4 denote H.

5 . Compound according to claim 1 , wherein m equals 0 and n denotes an integer from 2 to 1000.

6 . Process for the production of a compound according to claim 1 , comprising subjecting one or more precursors of the the compound to at least one organometallic reaction.

7 . Process according to claim 6 , wherein the compound is produced by a Kumada coupling, Suzuki coupling or Stille coupling.

8 . An electronic component comprising at least one compound according to claim 1 .

9 . Electronic component according to claim 8 , which is selected from the group of field-effect transistors, light-emitting components, photovoltaic cells, lasers and sensors.

10 . Electronic device which comprises at least one compound according to claim 1.