ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMERIZATION OF ALPHA,OMEGA-DI(N-PYRROLYL)ALKANES

Alpha,omega-Di(N-pyrrolyl)alkanes, C4H4N(CH2)nNC4H4 (n = 1-4 and 8), were prepared. Dipyrrolylakanes (n = 3, 4 and 8) are newly synthesized substances. Electrochemical polymerization leads to the formation of conducting polymer films on platinum and gold electrodes. Except for poly(dipyrrolylmethane), the oxidation potentials increase and electrical conductivities decrease with increasing n. Discontinuous characteristics of poly(dipyrrolylmethane) are discussed in terms of intramolecular cyclization. Dipyrrolylethane shows the most pronounced ability to electrochemical polymerization, and forms a polymer with the highest d.c. conductivity (1.7 x 10(-2) S cm-1).