Synthesis and characterization of fluorine-substituted polyanilines

Poly(2-fluoroaniline), P2FAN, poly(3-fluoroaniline), P3FAN, and poly(4-fluoroaniline), P4FAN, have been synthesized from fluorine substituted aniline monomers in aqueous acidic medium using potassium dichromate as oxidizing agent. Characterization of polymer products has been carried out using FTIR, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Thermal analysis of polyfluoroaniline powders was also investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. To compare the structural properties of the polymers, polyfluoroanilines were also synthesized using ammonium peroxydisulfate as oxidizing agent. Polyfluoroanilines synthesized by chemical oxidation were doped by using iodine and the change in the paramagnetic behavior was monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.