POLYMERIZATION OF ALLYLTHIOUREA BY CONSTANT-CURRENT ELECTROLYSIS

Allylthiourea was polymerized by constant current electroinitiation in acetonitrile using tetrabutylammonium fluoroborate as supporting elec trolyte. The polymer obtained was insoluble in common organic solvents . FTIR studies showed that polymerization propagates by addition throu gh the C=C double bond. The cyclic voltammogram of the monomer gave tw o irreversible oxidation peaks at + 1.3 V and + 2.4 V versus Ag-degree /Ag+ reference electrode at 25-degrees-C. Polymerization at room tempe rature gave a limiting conversion of about 10% for 2mA current and 30% for 5 mA current, in acetonitrile. Higher initial rates were obtained when dichloroethane was used as solvent.