Polymeric carbon can be formed by a method comprising the steps of(a) polymerizing 1-bromo-4-lithiobenzene to form a brominated polyphenylene wherein the ratio of brominated to non-brominated residues in the polymer is 1:5 or greater;(b) functionalizing the brominated polyphenylene to replace the bromide groups with a substituted or unsubstituted acetylene group; and(c) heating the functionalized polymer to a temperature of 900.degree. C. to form polymeric carbon. Preferably, the brominated polyphenylene is formed in an ethereal solvent such as tetrahydrofuran and then functionalized using a palladium catalyst and a copper catalyst. When the acetylene substituent is phenylacetylene, the product of the method is glassy carbon.