Vapor phase oxidation of poly(1,3-dihydroisothianaphthene)

Exposure of solid poly(1,3-dihydroisothianaphthene) (PDHITN) to thionyl chloride vapor converted it to doped poly(isothianaphthene) (PITN) with a conductivity of 2 S/cm, one of the highest values reported for PITN synthesized by chemical methods. In contrast to dehydrogenation of PDHITN by sulfuryl chloride there was minimal Cl substitution from the thionyl chloride treatment. The PITN formed was blue, not pale yellow as is obtained with electrochemically oxidized thin films of PITN.