Among the inherent drawbacks of conducting polymers are the limited processibility

uneven polydispersity inmolecular weigh and the existence of structure defects

which become the obstacles for many electronic

optical andbiological applications that demand the materials to have well-defined structures and high chemical purity. To solve theseproblems

our research in the last decade or so has focused on the synthesis of electroactive oligomers of well-defined structures

controllable molecular weights

narrow or uniform polydispersity.We have developed a general strategy for the synthesis of such of oligomers based on the theory of non-classical or reactivation chain polymerization.The aniline oligomers with minimum 4 nitrogen atoms and 3 phenylene rings exhibit similar characteristic redox behavior and electroactivity as polyaniline.Electronic conductivity of the oligomers of 7 or 8 aniline units approaches that of polyaniline.Solubility of the oligomers is much improved over that of conventional polyaniline.Various functional groups can be introduced into the oligomers either by proper selection of starting materials or by post-synthesis modifications via common organic reactions.The functionalized oligomers undergo further polymerizations to afford a variety of new electroactive materials

including polyamides

polyimides

polyureas

polyurethanes

polyacrylamides and epoxy polymers.Numerous potential applications

particularly as anticorrosion materials

are discussed for the oligomers and their polymeric derivatives.