REACTIONS OF HYDRATED ELECTRON WITH N,N'-METHYLENEBISACRYLAMIDE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION - A PULSE-RADIOLYSIS STUDY

A hydrated electron reaction with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA, M) was studied in aqueous solution at different pHs using the nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique. The rate constant for this reaction was v ery high (2.8 +/- 0.3 x 10(10) dm(3).mol(-1).s(-1)) and diffusion cont rolled. Transient M(.-) formed in the reaction of e(aq)(-) with MBA (M ) were characterized by their absorption spectrum (lambda(max) at 290 and 380 nm), decay kinetics, and pK(a). The subsequent reaction immedi ately after electron addition was shown to be cyclization of the M(.-) species. The process of cyclization depends strongly on the pH of the medium and is faster as the pH is increased. Polymer formation was ob served in the overall reaction, and evidence of the first propagation step leading to polymerization was provided.