TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preparation (claimed): Preparation of (I) involves reacting a monomer of formula R'-C(=S)-S-CH2-Ar-CH2-S-C(=S)-R' (II) with a basic compound (1 - 2 equivalents with respect to the monomer) in the presence of organic solvent at a temperature of -78 - 200 (preferably -20 - 30)degreesC.Preferred Method: (P1) Is performed by providing at least one (I) (where R' is NR1R2). In (P1), the leaving groups of (I) are eliminated during the conversion step, where 0 - 10% of the leaving group is not eliminated during the conversion step thus leading to the formation of partially converted conjugated polymer. In (P1), (I) is in the form of a thin film precursor polymer layer. The thermal conversion is performed under inert atmosphere, where the precursor polymer is dissolved in a solvent followed by a degassing step.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The basic compound is metal hydride, metal alkoxide, metal hydroxide, metal amide, metal amine, organometal compound, where the metal is alkali metal or alkali earth metal, a Grignard reagent and ammonium hydroxide, pyridine or phosphazene bases.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The concentration of monomer is 0.1 - 0.3M. The organic solvent is an aprotic solvent. Preferred Definitions:    R' = -NR1R2;    R1 and R2 = methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl or benzyl;    R3 and R4 = H;    Ar = 1,4-phenylene, 2,6-napthalendiyl, 1,4-naphthalenediyl, 1,4-anthracenediyl, 2,6-anthracenediyl, 9,10-anthracenediyl, 2,5-thienylene, 2,4-thienylene, 2,3-thienylene, 2,5-furandiyl, 2,5-pyrroldiyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2,5-diyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2,5-diyl, 2,5-benzo(c)thienylene, thieno(3,2-b)thiophene-2,5-diyl, pyrrolo(3,2-b)pyrrole-2,5-diyl, pyrene-2,7-diyl, 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene-2,7-diyl, 4,4'-biphenylene, phenanthrene-2,7-diyl, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diyl, dibenzofuran-2,7-diyl or dibenzothiophene-2,7-diyl.    EXAMPLE - To acetonitrile/water solution (50 ml) of 1,4-bis-(tetrahydrothiopheniomethyl)xylene dichloride (6 g) and diethyl dithiocarbamic acid sodium salt trihydrate (8.87 g) was added as solid after which the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. After work up, para-xylene bis(N,N-diethyl dithiocarbamate) (A) (6.2 g, 90%) was obtained. A solution of (A) (500 mg) in dry tetrahydrofuran (6.25 ml) at -78degreesC was degassed for 1 hour by passing through a continuous nitrogen flow. An equimolar lithium di-isopropyl amide was added with stirring. The mixture was kept at -78degreesC for 90 minutes while passing of nitrogen was continued. The solution was brought to 0degreesC. The polymer was then precipitated in ice water (100 ml) and worked up to form precipitate of para-xylene bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate) polymer (90% yield) having average molecular weight of 7300 g/mol, and polydispersity of 1.5.