oxidation of aniline in the presence of phenolic acids

Aniline was oxidized with ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) in aqueous solutions of various phenolic acids: 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and gallic acid (GA). Polymerizations were performed at the constant molar ratios [acid]/[aniline]=0.5 and [APS]/[aniline]=1.25. The conductivity of synthesized polyaniline (PANI) is affected by the dopant anion type and decreases in order: PANI-SSA > PANI-DNSA > PANI-GA, the last polymer being nonconducting. This decrease is in accordance with the increase of initial pH value of the reaction mixture. The differences in molecular structure of synthesized PANI have been revealed by FTIR spectroscopy. FTIR spectra of PANI-SSA and PANI-DNSA show typical features of PANI conductive emeraldine salt segments. On the contrary, FTIR spectrum of PANI-GA shows absence of bands typical for conducting PANI polaronic lattice, and indicates the higher oxidation state of this polymer than that of emeraldine, the presence of substituted phenazines as constitutional units, as well as significant content of monosubstituted benzene rings which reflects low polymerization degree and/or pronounced chain branching. The strong hydrogen bonding between GA and PANI can obstruct propagation of oligoanilines and formation of longer conducting PANI chains.