Polymerization and characterization of para-nitrophenol in sodium acetate medium on pb electrode

In this work a new polymer was prepared via electropolymerization of 4-nitrophenol on lead cathode in aqueous solution acetate medium (sodium acetate). electropolymerization of para-nitrophenol carried out in a separated electrochemical cell on Pb cathode under control potential of the cathod (-1 volt). The electrochemicalreduction of nitro compounds is best understood in terms of radical anions of the – NO2 group.Under conditions of low proton availability (weak alkaline media or aprotic solvent), the radical anions are quite stable and the reduction process splits into 1- electron and 3-electron steps [1]. After four hours, the electro-product was separated and washed with DDW to eliminate sodium acetate, unreacted 4-NP and the soluble electrode product. The electrode-product is a dark-brown powder, insoluble in water,but soluble in some organic solvents like methanol. The electrode-product was characterized by DSC, FT-IR, H-NMR, CV and suitable mechanism was proposed.