Chemical polymerization of 4-phenylaniline

The polymerization of 4-phenylaniline was carried out by chemical method us ing (NH4)(2)S2O8, FeCl3. 6H(2)O and W2O2 as oxidants. The reaction led to 4 -nitrobiphenyl as main product besides a small quantity of linear oligomers when H2O2 was used as oxidant while with (NH4)(2)S2O8 and FeCl3. 6H(2)O on ly linear oligomers, having a more probable structure resulted by incatenat ion at the ortho-position to the amino group, were obtained. As compared wi th polyaniline these oligomers are more soluble and thermally stable but th eir electrical conductivity is lower.