Gt. Li et al., Reactive groups on polymer-coated electrodes, 9 - New electroactive polythiophenes with epoxy and cyclic carbonate groups, MACRO CH P, 200(2), 1999, pp. 450-459
Two new functionalized thiophene derivatives bearing epoxy and carbonate gr
oups were synthesized. The electrooxidative polymerization of both monomers
led to stable electroactive polymers, while the functional groups remained
unchanged during the polymerization process. Electrochemical rind spectros
copic data of the resulting homopolymers reveal that these polymers possess
an extended conjugated pi-electron system comparable to unfunctionalized p
oly(3-alkylthiophene)s. Both monomers can also easily copolymerize with 3-m
ethylthiophene to form the corresponding conducting copolymers. SEM photogr
aphs show that the obtained homopolymers and copolymers exhibit a very comp
act homogeneous morphology, indicating that the new thiophene monomers have
good formability of polymer films. The measurement of electrical conductiv
ity of these polymers by means of two-probe method gave values in the range
of 10(-2) to 10(-1) S.cm(-1). Using butylamine and 2-aminoanthraquinone as
model compounds, it was demonstrated that amino compounds easily react wit
h pendant epoxy and cyclic carbonate groups and are convalently attached to
the new electroactive polymer surfaces. Thus, a new type of conducting pol
ymers with pendant reactive groups was developed.