Electrochemical Generation of the 9,10-Antraquinone Radical Anions and Its Use in the Polystyrene Synthesis

The nature of active centers and anionic mechanism of the styrene polymerization during the 9,10-antraquinone electroreduction in the monomer-dimethylacetamide-alkali metal (or ammonium) perchlorate system is studied by voltammetry, ESR, IR- and UV-spectroscopy. It is shown that the potential of electrolysis depends on the supporting electrolyte composition; the association of the supporting electrolyte cation with the organic anion, in turn, affects the mechanism of the polymerization initiation and the macromolecule growth kinetics. The potential of generation of 9,10-antraquinone and the styrene conversion in catholyte increase with increasing radius of the supporting cation in the series Li⁺ <; Na⁺ <; K⁺ <; Rb⁺ <; Cs⁺ <; (C₂H₅)₄N⁺ <; (C₄H₉)₄N⁺.