Electroinduced copolymerization of acrylonitrile-polyethylene glycol compared with chemical copolymerization

Electroinduced copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN)-polyethylene glycol ( PEG-400) initiated by Ce(IV) was performed in aqueous solution and compared with chemical copolymerization, which allowed Ce(III) to be converted to C e(IV) electrochemically during the polymerization. The polymer that was ins oluble in water was formed in the cathodic compartment. The effect of Ce(IV ), H2SO4, monomer, PEG-400 concentration, temperature, time, and potential on the yield were studied and compared with similar effects under nonelectr olytic conditions. The role of Ce(IV) salt on the copolymerization was foll owed by spectrophotometric methods during the reaction period. Polymers wer e characterized by FTIR, UV-visible spectrophotometry, and NMR. Intrinsic v iscosities of polymers were determined. Possible polymerization mechanisms are suggested in the case of electrolytic and nonelectrolytic conditions. T he electrolytic process has a demonstrable advantage over the nonelectrolyt ic method. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.