Synthesis of poly(isothianaphthene) by photopolymerization of 1, 3-Dihydroisothianaphthene

Abstract

A conducting polymer, poly(isothianaphthene) (PITN) was prepared by direct photopolymerization in solution of 1, 3-dihydroisothianaphthene (DHITN) which was more stable in air than isothianaphthene (ITN). This photopolymerization was initiated with electron transfer from DHITN to an acceptor such as carbon tetrachloride or oxygen. It proceeded by both UV irradiation and cationic polymerization under light exclusion. The polymerization rate was accelerated by the addition of salts. The rate of the PITN fraction of the product composition was governed by the nucleophilicity of the anion species of added salts. The features of this polymerization were seen in electrochemical polymerization and photopolymerization of ITN. © 1995, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.