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Abstract
A one-pot, environmentally friendly enzymatic method is described for the synthesis a polypyrrole derivative, poly(3-methylpyrrole) (poly(3-MP)) in an aqueous solvent system. The enzyme, soybean peroxidase (SBP), was shown to successfully polymerize the beta functionalized pyrrole monomer. The resulting polymer was semiconducting, thermally stable, and exhibited bipolaron absorptions when synthesized in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Polymers synthesized in the presence of 10-camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) were found to exhibit slightly higher conductivity values, but were less thermally stable compared to poly(3-MP) polymerized in the presence of PSS. This work should stimulate further interest in expanding the use of enzymes as catalysts for the polymerization of other pyrrole derivatives, as well as other classes of conjugated polymers.