A Switchable Self-Doped Polyaniline:  Interconversion between Self-Doped and Non-Self-Doped Forms

A novel strategy for the synthesis of a substituted polyaniline that can be switched between a self-doped and non-self-doped state is presented. The approach uses the complexation between boronic acid-substituted aniline, a diol (d-fructose), and fluoride to generate an anionic monomer. Under these conditions, chemical polymerization results in a self-doped, water-soluble, conducting polyaniline under neutral aqueous conditions. The self-doped polymer can be simply and reversibly converted to an insoluble non-self-doped form by reducing the concentration of fluoride. Characteristics of the polymerization reaction and the resulting polymer are discussed.