Chemical Oxidative Polymerization of 1,3-Phenylenediamine Dichloride in Aqueous Solution: Synthesis and Characterization

An aromatic diamine compound of 1,3-phenylenediamine dichloride (monomer), containing two polymerizable functional groups was submitted to selective polymerization in water via oxidative coupling polymerization with sodium hypochloride as the oxidant. Characterization of the synthesized polymer was performed utilizing UV-Vis, FT-IR, SEM, and photoluminescence techniques, identifying benzeneoid an quinoid units along the polymer chain. Based on the results of Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis, the synthesized compound was identified as being in a polymeric form. The number of repeating units, as determined from Mw and Mn, was calculated as 151 and 86, respectively. Under visible light excitation, the polymer exhibited green light emission with a quantum yield of 11.2% in DMF. The monomer is oxidized via oxidative polymerization to a polymer with a higher electrochemical band gap. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that the polymer particles with polyhedral and irregular sharp edges as well as spherical in the range from micro to nanometer in size were exhibited in the morphology of polymer.