Poly(phenylene sulfide-tetraaniline): The soluble conducting polyaniline analogue with well-defined structures

A novel conducting polymer poly(phenylene sulfide-tetraaniline) (PPSTEA), w ith tetraaniline (TA) and phenylene sulfide (PS) segments in its repeat uni t, has been synthesized through an acid-induced polycondensation reaction o f 4-methylsulfinylphenyl-capped tetraaniline. The new polymer, which repres ents the first soluble conducting polyaniline analogue with well-defined st ructure, has high molecular weight, good solubility in common solvents, and good film-forming properties. Its electrical property is analogous to poly aniline. The conductivity of preliminarily, protonic-doping PPSTEA is up to 10 degrees S/cm. This synthetic strategy appears to be general for develop ing novel well-defined polyaniline analogue containing much longer fixed co njugation length.