Ruthenium(II)-mediated synthesis of conducting polyaniline (PAni): A novel route for PAni–RuO2 composite

In this communication we describe the unprecedented ruthenium(II)-mediated synthesis of polyaniline. The synthesis enroutes via formation of a simple ruthenium(II)–tetraaniline complex which on chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hydrochloric acid gives conducting polyaniline–RuO2 composite. The reaction is novel in the way that both the metal center Ru(II) and the coordinated aniline molecules of the intermediate complex 1 take part in the oxidation reaction to yield polyaniline–ruthenium oxide hybrid.