Poly(phenylene sulfide–phenyleneamine–phenyleneamine) (PPSAA)—a soluble model for polyaniline

A novel nitrogen and sulfur containing polymer, the so-called poly(phenylene sulfide–phenyleneamine–phenyleneamine) (PPSAA) has been synthesized via a soluble precursor polymer through an acid-induced polycondensation reaction of N-(4-methylsulfinyl)phenylene-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine. This high molecular weight compound is exceptionally soluble in common organic solvents such as THF, DMF and NMP. The close electronic relationship of PPSAA to polyaniline (PAni) is demonstrated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements on a model compound and on the polymer. First investigations on both the acid-type and the oxidative-type doping of the PPSAA are presented. Furthermore, the concepts for the build-up of nitrogen and sulfur containing polymers with hyperbranched- or step-ladder-type topology are briefly introduced.