Synthesis of disulfide polymer by electrochemical polymerization of α,ω-alkanedithiols

Electrochemical polymerization of 1,3-propanedithiol (PRDT), 1,4-butanedithiol (BUDT), 1,5-pentanedithiol (PEDT), and 1,10-decanedithiol (DEDT) for synthesizing polymers containing disulfide bonds was investigated. PRDT, BUDT, PEDT and DEDT gave polymers by electrochemical polymerization under high diluted α,ω-alkanedithiols. The polymerization activity was found to depend on the alkyl chain of the α,ω-alkanedithiols. In the electrochemical polymerization of PRDT, the molecular weight of polymer gave a maximum at a supplied current quantum of 1 F/mol.