Anodic oxidation of dipyrrolyls linked with conjugated spacers: study of electronic interactions between the polypyrrole chain and the spacers

In order to promote interchain electronic connections in conducting polymer s, three dipyrrolyl monomers have been synthesized, with conjugated spacers mimicking chains of the oligo-phenylene, oligo-phenol and oligo-aniline ty pe. The electrochemical behaviour of these molecules as well as the charact eristics of the resulting polymers have been investigated, with the help of molecular modelling (AM1-SM2). Convergent results, obtained by cyclic volt ammetry, quartz crystal microbalance and ESCA, demonstrate that both pyrrol yl moieties are involved in the polymerization process, leading therefore, to ladder-like structure polymers. FTIR studies show strong interactions be tween the polymer backbone and the conjugated bridges. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience S.A. All rights reserved.