Oxidative polymerization of phenylenediamines in reversed micelles

Phenylenediamines were polymerized using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in reversed micelles which were composed of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and water in isooctane. The spectroscopic analyses suggested that polymers of o- and p-phenylenediamines retain the structure of disubstituted benzene nuclei of the monomers, indicating that the polymers are formed mainly via N-N coupling. In contrast, m-phenylenediamine yielded polymers with more complex structure, probably produced by N-N and N-C couplings. Circular dichroic (CD) spectra of horseradish peroxidase suggested that the enzyme retains its native-like structure and exhibits catalytic activity for polymerization of o- and m-phenylenediamines in the reversed micelles.