Electrochemical polymerization of 9-fluorenone

Electrochemical polymerization of 9-fluorenone, FO, was studied in CH2Cl2 solution with tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate, TBABF(4), as the electrolyte, via constant potential electrolysis, CPE. Prior to CPE, the redox behavior of FO was investigated in the same solvent/electrolytic medium using cyclic voltammetry, CV. CPE of FO yielded an insoluble polymer deposit on the electrode surface. The product was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy techniques. The redox and spectroelectrochernical, SPEL, behavior of the polymer were studied by CV and in situ UV-Vis spectrophotometric techniques at various potentials, respectively. The conductivity was measured using a two-probe technique and the paramagnetic behavior of the polymer was monitored using in situ ESR spectroscopy. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.