Oxidative polymerization of poly(2-(N-pyrrolyl)ethyl methacrylate) with iron chloride

Polymers 2 containing pyrrole in the side group were synthesized by radical polymerization of 2-(N-pyrrolyl)ethyl methacrylate 1 (PEMA). The PEMA units were coupled by oxidation with iron chloride in nitromethane. The polymers reached conductivities about 5 × 10−5 S/cm upon doping with iodine. The polymers were further characterized using 1H NMR, IR, gel permeation chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis.