Polymerization of m-aminophenol (mAP) in aqueous NaOH solution was done chemically by using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidative initiator. The product poly(m-aminophenol) (PmAP) was found to be highly soluble in aqueous sodium hydroxide, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF). From the intrinsic viscosity measurement, the optimum condition for the polymerization was established with 0.6M NaOH medium with the ratio of monomer to oxidant as 1:1.5 (mol:mol). The polymer was characterized by FTIR and I H NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHNS) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses. From the spectroscopic analysis the structure of the polymer was found to resemble that of hydroxy polyaniline as the polymer contains free -OH groups attached to o/m position in the phenyl ring. The elemental analysis of the polymer also confirmed the same. From TGA study, the polymer was found to be thermally stable. A freestanding film of poly(m-aminophenol) was cast in DMSO solution followed by solvent removal and drying of the film at 100 degrees C for 7-8 h in an oven. A dc conductivity of 4.8 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) was obtained for the synthesized polymer film after doping with H2SO4 solution. (c) 0 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.