A new electroconducting polymer with particle `ladder' structure is prepared by a two-step method consisting of free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrole followed by oxidation polymerization of the heteroarom. side chains. The formation of this structure is substantiated by the close similarity between IR spectra of oxidized polymer (I) and of polypyrrole obtained under similar conditions, as well as by the increase of the elec. conductivity from that of an insulator to 10-2 Ω-1 cm-1. Surprisingly, this last value is better than for poly(N-methylpyrrole), which should offer minor steric hindrance both to conjugation and doping. ESR data concerning I treated with different oxidizing agents and conditions are discussed with reference to the possible presence of paramagnetic species. Polymers of oxidized I type, consisting of one hydrocarbon chain paralleled by a conjugated aromatic chain, appear to be of interest for preparing tractable electroconducting materials and for investigating relations between elec. properties and spatial geometry
