Didecyl ester of 4‐sulfophthalic acid as a plast dopant and emulsifier in the chemical polymerization of aniline into polyaniline salt

Polyaniline salt was synthesized through the chemical oxidation of aniline with sodium persulfate as the oxidant and didecyl ester of 4‐sulfophthalic acid via three different polymerization pathways (aqueous, emulsion, and interfacial). In these polymerization processes, the ester acted as a novel plast dopant and as an emulsifier. The yield, conductivity, and number of ester units present in the polyaniline salts were determined. A polyaniline salt prepared by emulsion polymerization was soluble in chloroform and showed excellent solution‐processing properties. Polyaniline samples prepared by aqueous or interfacial polymerization were not soluble in chloroform. A soluble polyaniline salt was successfully synthesized through the washing of an organic layer containing the polyaniline salt with water in emulsion polymerization. X‐ray diffraction spectra of polyaniline salts prepared by the three different methods showed an ordered, layer‐type supramolecular structure. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010