INTERACTION BETWEEN OXIDIZED POLYPYRROLES AND DISSOLVED DIOXYGEN

Electroanalytical experiments show that overoxidized polypyrrole, espe cially the corresponding beta,beta'-substituted polymers, poly(3-metho xy-4-methylpyrrole) and poly(3,4-dimethylpyrTole), shows a high affini ty for dissolved dioxygen. This interaction occurs after deprotonation of the overoxidized polymer. The overoxidation potentials necessary f or this interaction are low (about +0.2 to 0.5 V versus SCE), i.e., lo wer than the oxidation potentials which lead to the addition of nucleo philes from the solution.