Preparation of organo-soluble polyanilines in ionic liquid

A method for preparation of organo-soluble polyaniline (PANI) is described. Oxidative coupling polymerization of anilium chloride with ammonium persulfate in a new ionic liquid, 2-hydroxyethyl ammonium formate (HAF), gives organo-soluble polyaniline with appreciable molecular weights (Mw = 86,400). Interestingly polyaniline (PANI) prepared by this method is highly soluble in many organic solvents such as acetone, tetrahydrofurane, dioxane, dimethyformamide and N-methyl, 2-pyrrolidinone. Thin films of PANI prepared at 0 °C (by solvent casting) show reasonable conductivities (up to 37.0 S cm−1) when doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid.