Polyfuran Explained

Polyfuran (PFu) is a polymer that consists of multiple furanylene rings. Such materials are of interest for their potential in molecular electronics, although much less studied than polythiophenes and polypyrroles. Polyfuran is distinct from furan resins, a class of non-conjugated polymers. Furan resins are of commercial interest, in contrast to polyfuran.

Polyfurans can be prepared by electrochemical approaches.^[1] The mechanism of polymerization is proposed to involve radical cation intermediates, i.e. species with the formula C₄R₄O⁺.^[2]

Polyfurans can also be produced using acid catalysts.^[3] Radical polymerization has also been explored,^[4] and oxidative cationic polymerization.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Gonzalez-Tejera, M. J. . Blanca, E. S. . Carrillo, I. . Synthetic Metals. 2008. 158. 5. 165–189. Polyfuran conducting polymers: Synthesis, properties, and applications. 10.1016/j.synthmet.2007.12.009.
2. Encyclopedia: Diaz, A. . Bargon, F.. Handbook of Conducting Polymers. Marcel Dekker . New York. 1986.
3. Armour, A; Davies, A. G.; Upadhyay, J.; Wassermann, A., J. Polym. Sci. A 1967, 5, 1527.
4. Gandini, A. Adv. Polym. Sci. 1977, 25, 47.
5. Yoshino, K. . Hayashi, S. . Sugimoto, R. . Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.. Preparation and Properties of Conducting Heterocyclic Polymer Films by Chemical Method. 1984. 23. L899–L900. 10.1143/JJAP.23.L899.