Polycationic polypyrrole

Electrically conducting polymers are quite different systems to the above elec-troinitiated chain polymerizations since they are formed by an unusual step-growth mechanism involving stoichiometric transfer of electrons. The polymers are obtained directly in a conductive polycationic form in which charge-compensating counter anions from the electrolyte system are intercalated into the polymer matrix [173], Exact mechanistic details remain the subject of discussion, but Scheme 4, which shows polypyrrole formation is plausible. Polythiophene is similar where S replaces NH in the ring. 

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