Polymerization and oxidation of pyrrole by organic electron acceptors

Abstract

AbstractSimultaneous chemical polymerization and oxidation of pyrrole have been initiated by organic electron acceptors, 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) and tetrachloro‐o‐benzoquinone(chloranil). The polypyrrole (PPY) complexes so produced are semiconductive and granular in nature. For the PPY–DDQ and PPY–chloranil complexes obtained from bulk polymerization, the respective electrical conductivities (σ) are of the order of 10−1 and 10−3 ohm−1 cm−1. However, σ is substantially lower for the complexes prepared in solvent media. Both complexes are relatively stable in the atmosphere. Thin uniform films of the PPY–organic acceptor complexes have also been synthesized on SnO2 electrode by electrochemical polymerization in acetonitrile. The physicochemical properties of the PPY–organic acceptor complexes prepared chemically under the various experimental conditions are examined in detail.