Observation of ionic hydrogen bonding between anions and triarylamine-based aromatic polyimides with secondary amine

Four triarylamine-based high-performance polyimides with secondary amine were readily synthesized, their ionic hydrogen-bonding interaction with pyridines and anions are successfully demonstrated (20 times higher than the literature in sensitivity) by the means of electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry. The prepared polymer thin films having the advantage for real-time qualitative detection are great candidates as chemosensors to both pyridines and anions.