Electrochemical properties of porphyrin-functionalized polythiophenes

Electrodes coated with electroactive polymers are promising tools for appli cations in sensors or redoxcatalysis. Poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene) (PE DOT) represents a conducting polymer with excellent electrochemical propert ies. The electropolymerization of an active ester-functionalized precursor molecule leads to PEDOT films which can be post-functionalized with many nu cleophilic compounds containing, e.g., redox centers or biomolecules. Unsym metrical aminosubstituted metalloporphyrins are now easily immobilized on t hese PEDOT films. The resulting hybrid materials can serve as model compoun ds for redox enzymes, as they exhibit a rich electron transfer chemistry an d are useful in electrocatalysis.