ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF DIFFERENT BINAPHTHALENE CROWN-ETHERS - NEW ELECTROFORMED POLYMER-FILMS AS POTENTIAL MACROMOLECULAR HOSTS

The oxidation of bis-binaphtho-22-crown-6 (1) and binaphtho-20-crown-6 (2) in CH2Cl2 containing Bu4NBF4 leads to the one-step deposition of an electroactive polymer film onto the electrode surface. In other ele ctrolytic media, the oxidation of these compounds causes the passivati on of the electrode or leads reversibly to stable species. The potenti odynamic analysis of poly(1) and poly(2) shows that these polymers are sensitive to the used potential scan range, in particular a degradati on of their electroactivity is evidenced for too positive potential va lues. The UV-Vis and IR spectroscopic properties of electroformed poly (1) and poly(2) films are also investigated. In order to determine the linkage of the naphthalene groups within the polymer structure, the v oltammetric study of two non-electropolymerizable derivatives is under taken. From the obtained results, a structure of poly(1) is then propo sed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.