Polymers with Various heterocycles in the Main Chain

1 POLYMERS WITH VARIOUS HETEROCYCLES IN THE MAIN CHAIN - General aspects 

The diversity of polymers containing heterocyclic groups is quite large. These polymers may include macromolecules generated from the polymerization of a unique monomer, such as poly(furfuryl alcohol), CAS 25212-86-6, with the formula shown below  

Some polymers containing heterocycles can be included in resins following further condensation. This is possible, for example, for poly(furfuryl alcohol), which can condense with formaldehyde, phenol, melamine and urea. Furfuryl alcohol-formaldehyde copolymer can be synthesized in the reaction of furfuryl alcohol with formaldehyde in the presence of oxalic acid as catalyst. 

Depending on their structure, the polymers containing heterocycles have various applications. For example, poly(furfuryl alcohol) is used in composite materials with fillers such as sand and concrete, in copolymers with formaldehyde, etc. Some of the polymers from this group have special properties such as good electrical conductivity (after appropriate doping). Among these polymers are poly(thiophene-2,5-diyl) and particularly polypyrrole, CAS 109-97-7, (usually in carbon black doped with an organic acid anion). The structure of this polymer is shown below  

The TGA shows that the polymer starts to lose some weight around 400° C, and the decomposition accelerates above 500° C. Volatile product may include H2S (see flash pyrolysis results) and oxidation products such as SO2. 

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