Ring-opening polymerization of proxyl-substituted epoxide derivatives and their redox property

Nitroxide radical electrochemically can be oxidized to oxoammonium cation(p-type doping) and reduced reversively. Based on these redox properties, we have reported the application of nitroxide radical to an electrode-active material. In this report, we synthesized polyethyleneoxide derivatives bearing 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpirrolidine-N-oxyl(proxyl radical) and studied their redox properties. 2,2,5-trimethyl-5-oxiranylmethylpyrrolidin-1-yloxy was synthesized from 2-nitropropane via four step reactions. The obtained proxyl-substituted epoxide was polymerized by ring-opening polymerization. Poly(proxyl radical)s were identified by IR, ESR, SQUID measurement, and elemental analysis. Redox properties of these polyradicals were examined by cyclic voltammetry. The formal potential was 0.75V.