Cationic metalloporphyrins for synthesis of conducting, water-soluble polyaniline

Catalytic oxidative polymerization of aniline was performed using the tetrapyridylporphyrin (TPyP) complexes of iron (III), manganese (III) and cobalt (III). It was found that the cationic metalloporphyrin catalyzed the polymerization of aniline more efficiently than the anionic metalloporphyrins, when using aqueous H2O2. The reaction was carried out in the presence of sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) as a template at different pHs, ranging from 1 to 5, and the best results were obtained at pH 2. Formation of water-soluble polyaniline (PANI) was characterized by UV-vis, FT-IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). FT-IR and UV-vis spectra confirm the formation of the conducting form of PANI. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrate that the polymer has convenient electroactivity.