Synthesis and properties of the polyanisidines

The oxidative polycondensation of ortho-, meta-, and para-anisidines has been studied with cyclic voltammetry and several analytical techniques. The first current maxima were positioned at 0.21, 0.44, and 0.52 V for o-, p- and m-anisidines respectively. It was determined that the reactivity of studied isomeric anisidines decreases in the following order: o-anisidine --> p-anisidine --> m-anisidine. This is confirmed with the results of quantum-chemical calculations. According to the results of infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and elementary analysis, the composition and structure of the synthesized polyanisidines coincide with emeraldine salts with HSO4- counter ions. Specimens of synthesized polymers were used as an electroactive material in the breadboard magnesium power sources of the Mg/1M Mg(ClO4)(2) + propylene carbonate/polyanisidine type. The specific capacities of these cells were 40.68, 124.13 and 233.70 A h/kg when the m-, p-, and o-isomers were used for cathode preparation. respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.