The first report of polymerization and characterization of aniline bearing chiral alkyl group on ring via covalent bond; poly[(±)-2-(sec-butyl)aniline]

A chiral alkyl substituted of polyaniline derivative, poly[(±)-2-(sec-butyl)aniline] was successfully synthesized by interfacial and conventional oxidative chemical polymerization. Both distilled and dark monomers (undistilled) were used in polymerization. The polymers were characterized in details by several techniques, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, elemental analysis (CHNS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Conductivity of polymers was also measured. Spectroscopic studies have proved the formation of polymer and confirm the pernigraniline form of polyaniline. Mass spectra of polymers synthesized were studied exactly and prove the presence of both amine and iminium nitrogen as well as counter ions of Cl−, HSO4− and SO42−. Size of polymer particles is considerably smaller by interfacial polymerization. Polymers show semi-crystalline structure in XRD analysis. More crystalline structure and conductivity gained from interfacial polymerization. Molecular weights of polymers were lower in comparison with polyaniline according to GPC results. The effect of neutral salt (LiCl) was studied on molecular weight.