CARBONATE RADICAL-INDUCED POLYMERIZATION OF PYRROLE - A STEADY-STATE AND FLASH-PHOTOLYSIS STUDY

Conventionally polymerisation of pyrrole is carried out either by chem ical or electrochemical oxidation. In the present study polymerisation of pyrrole was carried out in a novel way in order to investigate the kinetics of the reactions involved. Carbonate radical (CO3-) generate d either radiolytically or photolytically from a sodium carbonate solu tion, was employed as the oxidant for the polymerisation reaction. Fla sh photolysis and steady state gamma-radiolysis of pyrrole solution co ntaining sodium carbonate was used for generating different intermedia te and stable polymeric species. The kinetics of the formation and dec ay of different intermediate species were studied using UV-VIS spectro photometry and the disappearances of the monomer was ascertained using HPLC. After analysing the species and steps involved a plausible mech anism for the polymerisation of pyrrole is suggested.