| Abstract
| - The reductive coupling reactions in electrochemical polymerization of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) have been studied by in situ UV−vis spectroscopy using lithographic galvanicmicrostructured metal foils (LIGA structure) as the working electrode, in situ UV−vis−ESR spectroscopy,and by the rotating ring−disk electrode (RRDE) technique. The polymer film was synthesized byelectrochemical reduction of the monomer α,α,α‘,α‘-tetrabromo-p-xylene (1) in dimethylformamide usingtetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate as the supporting electrolyte. The results show that the reductionof monomer 1 takes place in two steps. The first step is a two-electron reduction process leading toformation of intermediates that stay in solution without precipitation onto the electrode surface. Thesecond two-electron reaction of these intermediates produce oligomers which precipitate onto the surfaceof the electrode. It was observed that the electrode material, cell design, and temperature have a markedinfluence on the value of the peak potential of the second reduction reaction.
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