POLYFURAN AND CO-POLYMERS: A CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS

Abstract

The use of conductive polymers as a substitute for metallic conductors and semiconductors has attracted much attention in the literature. In particular, aromatic heterocyclic polymers constitute an important class because they possess chemical and electrical stability. The properties of these polymers are promising for their many technological uses such as antistatic coatings, solar cells, electronic devises, and so on. Polyfuran is among the least common heterocyclic polymers. Polyfuran has been reported to be much less stable that either polypyrrole or polythiophene. The chemical synthesis of polyfuran using a mild oxidizing agent, pyridinium chlorochromate is described. Also, the preparation of ten co-polymers of polyfuran with one to five percent pyrrole or thiophene is reported. The polymers are characterized by 1H NMR, IR, and ESR spectroscopy, and the electrical conductivity of the synthetic polyfuran and ten co-polymers is provided.