SYNTHESIS OF POLY(ISOTHIANAPHTHENE) BY PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF 1,3-DIHYDROISOTHIANAPHTHENE

A conducting polymer, poly(isothianaphthene) (PITN) was prepared by di rect photopolymerization in solution of 1,3-dihydroisothianaphthene (D HITN) which was more stable in air than isothianaphthene (ITN). This p hotopolymerization was initiated with electron transfer from DHITN to an acceptor such as carbon tetrachloride or oxygen. It proceeded by bo th UV irradiation and cationic polymerization under light exclusion. T he polymerization rate was accelerated by the addition of salts. The r ate of the PITN fraction of the product composition was governed by th e nucleophilicity of the anion species of added salts. The features of this polymerization were seen in electrochemical polymerization and p hotopolymerization of ITN.1