Synthesis, characterization, conductivity, band gap and thermal analysis of poly-2-[(4-mercaptophenyl) imino methyl] phenol and some of its polymer–metal complexes

The oxidative polycondensation reaction conditions of 2-[(4-mercaptophenyl) imino methyl] phenol (4-MPIMP) was studied in an aqueous alkaline medium between 30 and 90 °C by using oxidants such as air O2, NaOCl and H2O2. Polymer–metal complex compounds were synthesized from the reactions of poly-2-[(4-mercaptophenyl) imino methyl] phenol (P-4-MPIMP) with Cr3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zr4+ ions. The structures of these monomer and polymer were identified from UV–vis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis. While thermal analysis of P-4-MPIMP and polymer–metal complexes were made by TGA–DTA, the number-average molecular weight (Mn), weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (PDI) values of this polymer were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). According to TG–DTA analyses, P-4-MPIMP–Cu was found to be higher stable than other synthesized polymer and polymer–metal complexes. While conductivity measurements of polymer and polymer–metal complexes were done by electrometer using four point probe techniques, electrochemical and optical band gap values of 4-MPIMP, P-4-MPIMP and polymer–metal complexes were determined by using cyclic voltammetry and UV–vis measurements. Conductivity and band gap values show that this polymer and polymer–metal complexes are a typical semiconductor.