Electroactive polymer films formed from the Schiff base product of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and dehydroacetic acid I. Preparation and characterization

We report on the preliminary synthesis and characterization of an electroac tive, conducting polymer that should readily bind metal cation. Anodic poly merization of the Schiff base resulting from the condensation reaction betw een 1,8-diaminonaphthalene and dehydroacetic acid, 8-(3-acetylimino-6-methy l-2.4-dioxopyran)-1-aminonaphthalene, on platinum electrode in acetonitrile was found to yield thin, electroactive polymeric films. Thr films were fou nd electroactive in acetonitrile and aqueous sulfuric acid solution and the electroacity is attributed to the electron transformation of the amino/imi ne sites in the polymer as in aromatic amine polymers. Electrochemical stud ies of electron-transfer reactions on the polymer-covered platinum electrod es indicated that the polymer films are highly porous and semiconducting. ( C) 2000 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(99)01-096-4. All rights res erved.