Electroinitiated polymerization of some acetylenic derivatives, a polarographic study

The polarographic reduction of some acetylenic derivatives—phenylacetylene, diphenyldiacetylene and methyl propiolate, as well as of some quarternary salts (ammonium, phosphonium, arsonium and stibonium), was investigated in order to establish whether the electroinitiated polymerization process took place by direct electron transfer to the acetylenic monomer or indirectly. The half‐wave potentials of the compounds mentioned at the dropping mercury cathode and at the stationary platinum electrode were measured. From the experimental data on the polymerization of the above acetylenic monomers, some statements on the kinetics of the polymerization process were made.