Synthesis and characterization of an ionic conjugated polymer: poly[2-ethynyl-N-(2-furoyl)pyridinium chloride]

A new ionic polyacetylene derivative with furoyl substituents was prepared by the uncatalyzed polymerization of 2-ethynylpyridine by using 2-furoyl chloride in high yield. The polymer structure was characterized by such instrumental methods as NMR, IR, and UV-visible spectroscopies to have a polyacetylene backbone system with the N-(2-furoyl)pyridinium chloride. The electro-optical and electrochemical properties of poly[2-ethynyl-N-(2-furoyl)pyridinium chloride [PEFPC] were studied. The photoluminescence spectrum showed that the PL peak is at 578 nm corresponding to the photon energy of 2.15 eV. The cyclovoltammograms of PEFPC exhibited the irreversible electrochemical behaviors between the oxidation and reduction peaks. The oxidation current density of polymer versus the scan rates is approximately linear relationship in the range of 30 mV/sec-150 mV/sec. It was found that the kinetics of redox process is controlled by the reactant diffusion process from the oxidation current density of PEFPC versus the scan rates.