Chemical synthesis of stable and electroactive polypyrrole and related polyheterocyclic compounds

Abstract

A simple chemical process for the simultaneous polymerization and oxidation of pyrrole, N-substituted pyrroles, and other heterocycles having five or six member rings by halogenic or organic electron acceptors. The polypyrrole-acceptor charge transfer complexes so produced are of high purity and are stable in the atmosphere, in the presence of moisture and at elevated temperatures. The conductivities of the complexes are controllable between 30 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 and 10.sup.-3 ohm-1 cm-1, depending on the type of acceptor used and the process conditions.