Patent ID: 6239251
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: C07C,C08G,C09D

Abstract:
A method of forming an oligomer from monomers of Formula I: ##STR18##wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --OH, --COOH, halogen, --NO.sub.2, --NH.sub.2, and substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy and substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups; R.sup.1 substitutions being ortho or meta to the --NHR.sup.2 group; and m is 0 to 4, the method comprising:reacting the monomer of Formula I, or a derivative or water-soluble salt thereof, with greater than 10 mole percent of an initiator, in the presence of a chemical oxidant and/or an applied electrochemical potential, said initiator comprising a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amine that has a lower oxidation potential than the monomer of Formula I and which is capable of being incorporated in a chain resulting from the reaction, wherein the oligomer has a molecular weight of less than 2300, and is in an at least partially oxidized form; andconverting the oligomer to its base form and reacting the base form of the oligomer with an organic aldehyde to form an end-functionalized oligomer, wherein amine end groups of the oligomer are converted to imine end groups in the end-functionalized oligomer.