• Can be converted to its 5-lithio- and 5,5'-dilithio derivatives by PhLi and n-BuLi respectively. Chemistry of this type has found applications in synthesis of: liquid crystal molecules: Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Sci. Technol. Sect. A, 218, 113 (1992); bithienoquinoid compounds as electron donors for organic conductors: Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 5405 (1992); conjugated thiophene oligomers as organic semiconductors: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 115, 8716 (1993); polythiophenes as conducting polymers: Synth. Met., 55, 420 (1993).