Optically active sulfonated polyanilines

The water soluble sulfonated polyaniline, poly(2-methoxyaniline-5-sulfonic acid), has been prepared in optically active form via the electropolymerisa tion of 2-methoxyaniline-5-sulfonic acid in the presence of (R)-(+)- or (S) -(-)-1-phenylethylamine. The polymer films deposited on ITO-coated glass wi th the enantiomeric amines exhibited intense, mirror imaged circular dichro ism spectra in the visible region. This enantioselectivity in the polymeris ation/deposition is attributed to the respective chiral amines inducing a p referred one-handed helical structure to the sulfonated polyaniline chains via acid-base interactions. The optical activity and electroactivity of the chiral polymers are retained after their immobilisation on poly(4-vinylpyr idine). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.