Electrochemical polymerization of fluoro- and chloro-substituted anilines and copolymers with aniline

Poly(2-fluroaniline) and poly(2-chloroaniline) were synthesized by an electrochemical method in an acetonitrile solution containing tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and perchloric acid. Also, the electrochemical copolymerization of aniline with 2-fluroaniline and 2-chloroaniline was carried out in the same medium. Cyclic voltammograms of the deposited films were recorded in neutral, acidic, and basic solutions. The electrochemical behavior of the films showed the same characteristic results as conventional polyaniline. The observed decrease in the dry electrical conductivity of the copolymers with respect to polyaniline was attributed to the incorporation of the fluoro- and chloro-substituted anilines into the polyaniline chain. Further characterization of the polymer and copolymer products was performed through dry electrical conductivity measurements, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The relative solubility of the films was determined in various common organic solvents. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.