Electrochemical Oxidation of Ethylenediamine: New Way to Make Polyethyleneimine-Like Coatings on Metallic or Semiconducting Materials

Abstract

A mechanism is proposed for the anodic polymerization of ethylenediamine (EDA). Initially, there occurs the formation of the radical cation , followed by the breaking of the C‐N bond, the expulsion of , and concomitant formation of the primary carbocation or the aziridinium cation. This cation reacts with an group of an EDA molecule, yielding a new amine which can be further oxidized. The product on the anode is a polyethyleneimine‐like polymer. A similar product was found for diethylenetriamine, whose oxidation was studied too. Other pure o‐amines can also polymerize if they are primary amines and have vicinal alkyl groups which are secondary, i.e., have the formula . © 2000 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.