Synthesis, characterization, thermal degradation and electrical conductivity of oligo[2-(Thien-2-YL-methylene)aminophenol] and oligomer-metal complexes

The optimum reaction conditions of the oxidative polycondensation of 2-(thien-2-yl-methylene)aminophenol (2-TMAP) has been accomplished by using air O2, H2O2 and NaOCl oxidants in an aqueous alkaline medium between 20°C and 90°C. The structures of the monomer and oligomer were confirmed by FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. TGA-DTA, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) techniques and solubility tests were applied for characterization. The 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR data show that the polymerization proceeded with CC and COC coupling system from ortho and para positions and oxyphenylene. The number-average molecular weight (M n), weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (PDI) values of oligo[2-(thien-2-yl-methylene)aminophenol] (O-2-TMAP) were determined with SEC measurements. Thermal analyses of oligomer-metal complex compounds of O-2-TMAP with Cd+2, Co +2, Cu+2, Zn+2, Fe+2, Zr +4, Ni+2 and Pb+2 ions were investigated in N2 atmosphere in the temperature range of 15-1000°C. The highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of monomer and oligomer were determined from the onset potentials for n-doping and p-doping, respectively. Optical band gaps (Eg) of 2-TMAP and O-2-TMAP and oligomer-metal complex compounds determined according to UV-Vis measurements. Also, electrical conductivities of O-2-TMAP and its metal complexes measured with four-point probe technique. © 2009 World Scientific Publishing Company.