Electroinitiated Polymerization of N-Vinylcarbazole

Abstract

Electroinitiated polymerization of N- Vinylcarbazole was studied in various solvents It was found that the polymerization proceeded in acetic anhydride and acetonitrile solutions containing lithium perchlorate.
UV-and IR-spectroscopic studies showed that the structures of the polymers so formed were similar to those of the polymers produced by the usual cationic polymerization. Furthermore, the presence of very active species in the electrolyzed solution suggests that acyl grgups or hydrogen cations which were produced by electro1ysis of acetic anhydride or acet6nitrile, initiated the polymerization.
Moreover, it was assumed that the polymerization initiated by electrolysis proceeds via a cationic mechanism.