Chemical preparation of polyaniline and its derivatives by using cerium(IV) sulfate

Polymerization of aniline and its derivatives were performed by using the cerium(IV) sulfate as an oxidant instead of conventional ammonium peroxodisulfate. Reaction conditions were optimized with emphasis on conductivity and yield. Reaction of 3,5-dimethylaniline and 2,3-dimethylaniline by using cerium(IV) sulfate gave the polymeric products, while no polymeric products were obtained by using the ammonium peroxodisulfate as an oxidant. The polymers were characteristics of Emeraldine structure on the basis of IR spectra. The partially belt-like morphology of the polyaniline, when prepared in an acidic medium, was observed by scanning electron microscope.