Preparation of polyaniline by oxidation of aniline using H2O2 in the presence of an iron(II) catalyst

Abstract

AbstractOxidative polymerization of aniline using the H2O2‐FeSO4 system gave polyaniline under mild conditions. The prepared powdery emeraldine base, a form of polyaniline, is blue black and shows high solubility in organic solvents (e.g., ca. 200 mg/mL in N‐methylpyrrolidone). The number‐average molecular weight (Mn) of the polymer obtained was 1,3–1,7 · 104 (via gel permeation chromatography vs. polystyrene) and Mw/Mn = 1,6–2,2. Poly(2‐ethylaniline) and poly‐(2‐propylaniline) with high molecular weights were also synthesized by this procedure in high yield.