The Initiation Reaction of Electro-initiated Polymerization of Acrylamide in the Kolbe Electrolysis System

Abstract

Abstract The mechanism of electro-initiated polymerization of acrylamide in the Kolbe electrolysis system was investigated in detail and the reaction path of the intermediate radicals was clarified by product analysis and a measurement of the consumption rate of the monomer. The Kolbe intermediate radical, CF3·, reacts first preferentially with the monomer. Next, the radical thus formed reacts with other species to produce CF3CH2CH2CONH2, CF3CH2CH(CF3COO)CONH2 and CF3CH2CH(CONH2)CH(CF3CH2)CONH2. The first reaction is fast, but the reaction of CF3COO· with the monomer appears to be unreasonable. These reactions proceed on the electrode surface and in the layers below the diffusion layer, i.e., in layers of the same order as the depth of unevenness on the platinized platinum electrode.