ANODIC-OXIDATION OF ANILINE AND N-ALKYLANILINES IN AQUEOUS SULFURIC-ACID STUDIED BY ELECTROCHEMICAL THERMOSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Electrochemical thermospray mass spectrometry (ETMS) is a suitable met hod for the investigation of electrode precesses. The mechanism of the anodic oxidation of N,N-dialkylanilines in neutral aqueous solution a nd of phenothiazine in organic electrolyte solution have already been clarified by ETMS. By modification of the experimental setup, it is no w possible to examine acidic electrolytes. The anodic oxidation of ani line, leading to the conducting polymer polyaniline and the anodic oxi dation of N-alkylanilines were chosen for testing the new method. Ther mospray mass spectra for aniline and N-alkylanilines as well as electr ochemically generated products are shown. The potential dependent form ation of dimeric and trimeric products and their structures are presen ted. A mechanism for the oxidation process is proposed. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science S.A.