In order to synthesise suitable starting materials for the synthesis of electroactive monomers, the mono-methylation of some primary amines was firstly investigated. This méthylation reaction involved a Mannich reaction of primary amine with succinimide and formaldehyde followed by the reduction using sodium borohydride in DMSO. This reaction was applied to p-dimethylaminoaniline, p-diaminobenzene, o-diaminobenzene and 1 -aminoanthraquinone.
Three electroactive monomers, 2-(p-dimethylamino-N-methylarrilino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(p-dimethylamino-N-methylanilino)ethyl acrylate, and 4-(pdimethylamino- N-methylan ilino)butyl acrylate were synthesised through the tosylation of certain hydroxy alkyl acrylates followed by nucleophilic substitution with p-dimethylamino-N-methylaniline.
Homopolymers of the three electroactive monomers and copolymers of the electroactive monomers with methyl acrylate and styrene, with different compositions, were synthesised through free radical polymerizations. The characterization of these polymers by NMR gave interesting stereochemical informations of the polymer chain.
The electrochemical properties of these electroactive polymers were investigated both in solution and in solid state (as modified electrodes) using cyclic voltammetric experiments. According to the electrochemical behaviour of these polymers in different conditions, some good electrolyte systems (TEAP or Lithium perchlorate in propylene carbonate) and potential range (-0.3 to 0.5V vs. SCE) were suggested for the applications of these polymers.