Condensation of 5,5,10,10-tetramethyl-16-oxa-tripyrromethane and 2,5-bis[(alpha-hydroxy-alpha,alpha-dimethyl)methyl]furan or 2,5-bis[(alpha-hydroxy-alpha,alpha-dimethyl)methyl]thiophene resulted in cyclic, alternating oligomers of furan(thiophene) and pyrrole. The product distribution is independent of the reaction conditions, the presence of inorganic additives and temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.