Electrochemical synthesis of poly(para-phenylene) on platinum electrode in glacial acetic acid–sulfuric acid solvent

In concentrated sulfuric acid–glacial acetic acid solvent benzene is oxidized to poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) if the concentration of glacial acetic acid is less than 40 vol.%. Depending on the potential applied the chains containing 11–18 monomer units are formed. PPP forms quasi-reversible redox system, which is deactivated if oxidized at potentials greater than +1.35 V (vs SCE).