Electropolymerization of N,N'-Diphenylguanidine in Non-Aqueous Aprotic Solvents and Alcohols

Abstract

Electrooxidation of N,N’-diphenylguanidine (1,3-diphenylguanidine) was investigated in aprotic (acetonitrile, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, propyleneoxide, nitromethane) and alcoholic (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, benzyl alcohol) non-aqueous solvents at platinum electrode with cyclic voltammetry. Its concentration was 5 mM in most cases. In acetonitrile and acetone a sharp voltammetric peak appeared around 1 V vs. reference and currents measured in the subsequent scans showed that the electrode fouled quickly. In dimethyl formamide, the anodic peak heights decreased slowly in the subsequent scans but in dimethyl sulfoxide weak deactivation could be observed both in smaller and in higher concentration. In alcohols, continuous deactivation could be also observed during electrooxidation of N,N’-diphenylguanidine. The permeability studies showed that the structure of the formed polymer films varied significantly according to the solvent used for electrodeposition.