As part of our ongoing research efiort directed towzird the synthesis and characterization of rigid rod molecules. the synthesis of all para linked polyphenyls became necessary. Synthe- tic routes to polyphenyls have been reviewed extensively." 3 The major shortfall of the previously investigated synthetic procedures i5 that usually mixtures of products are obtuiiied which are contaminated with a variety 01" halogenated or metallic impurities. In ...