Elaboration of a novel conducting polymer substituted by a N,N-diethylbenzenesulfonamide group capable of S–N cathodic cleavage in both aqueous and nonaqueous media

A conducting polymer has been obtained by anodic oxidation of 4-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophen-4-ylidenemethyl-N,N-diethyl-benzenesulfonamide. In this novel polycyclopentadithiophene matrix, a cathodically sensitive aryl sulfonamide group is grafted through an ethylene junction to the polymer backbone. This polymer exhibits a remarkable electroactivity in organic and aqueous solvents allowing a smooth electrochemical cleavage of the S–N bond in both media.