Progress in conducting/semiconducting and redox-active oligomers and polymers of arylamines

Recent advances in synthesis, characterization and application of the selected conducting/semiconducting and redox-active oligomers and polymers of arylamines are reviewed. A brief historical background of the selected topics is given. The overview of the preparation, structure and properties of polyaniline, substituted polyanilines, especially those obtained by the oxidative polymerization of p-substituted anilines, poly(1-aminonaphthalene) and its derivatives, carbocyclic and heterocyclic polyaryldiamines such as poly(p-phenylenediamine) and polydiaminoacridines, is presented. The mechanism of formation of polyaniline nanostructures is discussed. Recent approaches to the preparation of one-dimensional polyaniline nanostructures are concisely reviewed, with special attention paid to the template-free falling-pH method. Current and potential future applications of oligo/polyarylamines are briefly discussed.