Melanins are a class of naturally occurring pigmentary macromolecules found in mammals. These compounds have a high degree of conjugation rendering them a powerful radiation absorber with broadband photon absorption spectrum that extends from the ultravoilet into the infrared range. The black-brown variety of melanin is known as eumelanin and is thought to be a heterogeneous network produced by oxidative polymerization of the two monomers, 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. Eumelanins are experimentally challenging due to their poor solubility and extreme heterogeneity. Work by McGinness on electrical switching established that eumelanins were organic semiconductors. Current research involving electronic devices based on eumelanin has only employed insoluble eumelanin pellets or electropolymerized films that are thin and brittle and display very poor morphologies. Progress towards the design and synthesis of well-defined, soluble eumelanin-based materials will be presented.

Design and synthesis of well-defined, soluble Eumelanin-based materials

246th National Meeting (2013)

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