A novel synthesis of poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) and a conducting polymer were achieved simultaneously from 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in a very short time, using microwave energy. The characterizations of poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) and the conducting polymer were performed by DSC, TGA, elemental analysis, FTIR, H-1 and C-13 NMR, SEM, MS and X-ray diffraction spectrometer analyses. The combined molecular weight of the polymer, 1.8 x 10(4), was determined by using viscometry measurement. Poly(dichlorophenylene oxide) displaces selectivity in the favor of mainly 1,2-addition structure. The optimum conditions for the polymer and the conducting polymer synthesis were 70 W for 5 min and 100 W for 1 min, respectively. The direct synthesis of highly conducting polymer, with the conductivity of 0.3 S cm(-2) were achieved in the absence of applied doping process in a very short time sequence. Conductivity-temperature relation was examined for the conducting polymer. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.