1H NMR spectral studies on the polymerization mechanism of indole and its derivatives.

The existence of NH bond according to the hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectra of polyindole and its derivatives, such as poly(5-bromoindole), poly(5-cyanoindole), poly(5-nitroindole), poly(5-methylindole), proved polymerization of high-quality polyindoles, which were electrosynthesized from middle strong Lewis acid boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) and its mixed electrolytes with additional diethyl ether, occurred at 2,3-position. The elongation of the conjugation length made the chemical shift of all the protons of polyindoles to lower field in comparison with those of monomers.