Ruthenium(II)-mediated synthesis of conducting polyaniline (PAni): A novel route for PAni-RuO2 composite

In this communication we describe the unprecedented ruthenium(II)-mediated synthesis of polyaniline. The synthesis enroutes via formation of a simple ruthenium(II)-tetraaniline complex which on chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hydrochloric acid gives conducting polyaniline-RuO2 composite. The reaction is novel in the way that both the metal center Ru(II) and the coordinated aniline molecules of the intermediate complex 1 take part in the oxidation reaction to yield polyaniline-ruthenium oxide hybrid.