Electrosyntheses, Spectroelectrochemical, Electrochemical, and Chronovoltabsorptometric Properties of Family of Poly (Aromatic Amines), Novel Processible Conducting Polymers: I . Poly(Benzidines)

Direct electropolymerization of a family of aromatic amines yields novel, stable conducting polymers with good conductivity and ca. 8 weight/weight percent (0.3 M ) or higher solubility in doped and undoped states in organic media. The polymers are electroactive in solution and recastable as films with spectroelectrochemical and electrochemical activity identical to virgin films. Detailed properties are reported in the present communication for two of the polymers, poly(N,N'‐diphenyl benzidine) and poly(benzidine), including solution electrochemistry, film properties of virgin vs. recast films, spectroelectrochemical properties which show broad‐band absorption across the visible spectral region and clear development of bipolaron bands, and charging capacities. Chronocoulometry, chronoamperometry, and chronovoltabsorptometry (optical transmission at specific wavelength as function of time and applied potential) show reversible behavior for films of poly(N,N'‐diphenyl benzidine) over several thousand cycles for pulses as short as 0.1 s, but polymer degradation on extended cycling for poly(benzidine). Polymer structural elucidation indicates a combination of N‐ and para ‐linkages for poly(N,N'‐diphenyl benzidine).