Synthesis of Random Copolymers of Pyrrole and Aniline by Chemical Oxidative Polymerization

Abstract

Random copolymers have been synthesized in high yields (94%) by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline/pyrrole comonomers using H₂O₂ in the presence of Fe catalyst. The oxidative polymerization proceeds via successive coupling that gives the copolymer structure similar to polyaniline and polypyrrole. The copolymers are black powders and soluble in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The weight–average molecular weight (M_w) of the copolymers was in a range, from 6200 to 15,000 g/mol.

Keywords:

• copolymer
• polyaniline
• polypyrrole

Notes

¹Polymerization was carried out using H₂O₂ (31%) in the presence of the FeSO₄ · 7H₂O at 30°C.

²Yield = weight of polymer/(weight of pyrrole + weight of aniline).

³Weight – average molecular weights (Mw) were evaluated by GPC (polystyrene standard, 0.01 mol L⁻¹ LiBr/DMF solution as eluent).