A NEW APPROACH TO ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS VIA WELL-DEFINED OLIGOMERRS WITH FURTHER POLYMERIZABLE END-GROUPS

Among the inherent drawbacks of conducting polymers are the limited processibility, uneven polydispersity inmolecular weigh and the existence of structure defects, which become the obstacles for many electronic, optical andbiological applications that demand the materials to have well-defined structures and high chemical purity. To solve theseproblems, our research in the last decade or so has focused on the synthesis of electroactive oligomers of well-definedstructures, controllable molecular weighs, narrow or uniform polydispersity. We have developed a general strategy for thesynthesis of such oligomers based on the theory of non-classical or reactivation chain polymerization. The aniline oligomerswith minimum 4 nitrogen atoms and 3 phenylene rings exhibit similar characteristic redox behavior and electroactivity aspolyaniline. Electronic conductivity of the oligomers of 7 or 8 aniline units approaches that of polyaniline. Solubility of theoligomers is much improved over that of conventional polyaniline. Various functional groups can be introduced into theoligomers either by proper selection of starting materials or by post-synthesis modifications via common organic reactions.The functionalized oligomers undergo further polymerizations to afford a variety of new electroactive materials, includingpolyamides, polyimides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyacrylamides and epoxy polymers. Numerous potential applications,particularly as anticorrosion materials, are discussed for the oligomers and their polymeric derivatives.

A NEW APPROACH TO ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS VIA WELL-DEFINED OLIGOMERRS WITH FURTHER POLYMERIZABLE END-GROUPS

Among the inherent drawbacks of conducting polymers are the limited processibility, uneven polydispersity inmolecular weigh and the existence of structure defects, which become the obstacles for many electronic, optical andbiological applications that demand the materials to have well-defined structures and high chemical purity. To solve theseproblems, our research in the last decade or so has focused on the synthesis of electroactive oligomers of well-definedstructures, controllable molecular weighs, narrow or uniform polydispersity. We have developed a general strategy for thesynthesis of such oligomers based on the theory of non-classical or reactivation chain polymerization. The aniline oligomerswith minimum 4 nitrogen atoms and 3 phenylene rings exhibit similar characteristic redox behavior and electroactivity aspolyaniline. Electronic conductivity of the oligomers of 7 or 8 aniline units approaches that of polyaniline. Solubility of theoligomers is much improved over that of conventional polyaniline. Various functional groups can be introduced into theoligomers either by proper selection of starting materials or by post-synthesis modifications via common organic reactions.The functionalized oligomers undergo further polymerizations to afford a variety of new electroactive materials, includingpolyamides, polyimides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyacrylamides and epoxy polymers. Numerous potential applications,particularly as anticorrosion materials, are discussed for the oligomers and their polymeric derivatives.