N-substituted derivatives of polyaniline

Fully N-methylated polyaniline was obtained analytically pure by the oxidative polymerization of C6H5N (CH3) (H) with (NH4)2S2O8 in 1.0M aqueous HCl. The resulting black-green polymer (σ ∼10−4 s/cm) was shown to have a similar backbone structure to parent polyaniline, and upon heating, lost HCl and H2O, yielding a black-brown solid, (σ < 10−8 s/cm) containing ∼14% oxidized groups. “Pseudo-protonic” acid doping of “emeraldine” base with neat (CH3)2SO4 yielded polymers whose extent of doping could be monitored continuously. The ∼50% methylated “emeraldine” base (σ = ∼10−2 s/cm) had a χPauli approximately half that of 50% proton doped “emeraldine” base, consistent with the symmetrically effect of the methyl groups.