Synthesis, structural characterization and electrical properties of highly conjugated soluble poly(furan)s

The polymerization of furan by different oxidants has been studied. Particular attention has been devoted to the nature of the reaction medium in combination with FeCl3 as oxidizing agent. The use of a polar aprotic solvent with high donicity, such as propionitrile, allows one to obtain soluble oligo(furan)s with an ordered aromatic structure and hence high conjugation degree. These products, when blended with polar polymers such as poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), give rise to films with good mechanical properties which, after I-2-doping, display electrical conductivity of several orders of magnitude higher than that reported up to date for Zz-doped powdery and intractable poly(furan)s. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.