A new approach to electroactive polymers via well-defined oligomers with further polymerizable end-groups

Among the inherent drawbacks of conducting polymers are the limited processibility, uneven polydispersity in molecular weight and the existence of structure defects, which become the obstacles for many electronic, optical and biological applications that demand the materials to have well-defined structures and high chemical purity. To solve these problems, our research in the last decade or so has focused on the synthesis of electroactive oligomers of well-defined structures, controllable molecular weights, narrow or uniform polydispersity. We have developed a general strategy for the synthesis of such oligomers based on the theory of non-classical or reactivation chain polymerization. The aniline oligomers with minimum 4 nitrogen atoms and 3 phenylene rings exhibit similar characteristic redox behavior and electroactivity as polyaniline. Electronic conductivity of the oligomers of 7 or 8 aniline units approaches that of polyaniline. Solubility of the oligomers is much improved over that of conventional polyaniline. Various functional groups can be introduced into the oligomers either by proper selection of starting materials or by post-synthesis modifications via common organic reactions. The functionalized oligomers undergo further polymerizations to afford a variety of new electroactive materials, including polyamides, polyimides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyacrylamides and epoxy polymers. Numerous potential applications, particularly as anticorrosion materials, are discussed for the oligomers and their polymeric derivatives.Polymer ScienceSCI(E)中国科学引文数据库(CSCD)5REVIEW2105-1182