ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF 1,2-DIMETHOXYBENZENE - CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOLOGY OF DEPOSITED PRODUCT

''Polyveratrole'' was synthesized by electrochemical oxidation of 1,2- dimethoxybenzene in acetonitrile/tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate on a platinum electrode at 1.600 V vs. Ag/Ag+ (0.01M). Instantaneous f ormation of nuclei occurs followed by a randomly oriented unidimension al growth of green fibrils. The fibril growth that is related to a sta cking structure of several ''monomer'' units of hexamethoxytriphenylen e cation radicals associated with BF4- counterions. The process of nuc leation and fibril growth is a periodic event that leads to the format ion of a nest-like arrangement. As time increases, this arrangement li nes up with the electric field, and the product exhibits paramagnetic properties. Ex situ reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscop y, and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra confirm aromatic ring fusion. Calorimetric analysis of the green product shows that po lyveratrole sublimes under vacuum at about 250 degrees C.