Synthesis and characterization of semiconductive poly-1,4-dimethoxybenzene and its derived polyquinone

Poly-1,4-dimethoxybenzene has been synthesized by the anodic oxidation of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene in aprotic electrolytes. The black polymer is a doped semiconductor as formed. This material is converted to polymeric (oligomeric) hydroquinone and quinone. The polymers are insoluble in all common solvents except for the polyhydroquinone in aqueous base. A coulombic titration of this quinone, using an electrode compounded with carbon and in an aprotic electrolyte, gave an equivalent weight corresponding to similar to 0.5e super(-) per quinone unit. Similar results were observed in the initial cycles in Li cells, however, the capacity of the electrode degraded on cycling.