Mechanism of electropolymerization of phenylacetylene in propylene carbonate

Electrooxidation of phenylacetylene (PAH) in a solution of 0.1 M in LiClO4 in propylene carbonate (PC) led to the formation of the conducting polymer poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA). A kinetic study has been made by experimental determination of the kinetic parameters. A mechanism is proposed which leads to confirmation of the experimental data. The electropolymerization product was isolated, purified, and characterized. Spectroscopic data showed that the polymer obtained consists in a linear polyene chain with a trans structure. The average molar mass determined was 3095, corresponding to the formation of a polymer with around 30 monomer units and to an electrical efficiency of 3095 g of polymer/mol of electrons.