Polyacetylene Formed by the Benzoin Dianion Reduction of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

Z. Iqbal, D. M. Ivory, J. S. Szobota, R. L. Elsenbaumer, R. H. Baughman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The reflective, gold-colored surface layer produced on reduction of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films with benzoin dianion in dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) has previously been reported to be a reactive form of carbon. In this work the material has been prepared on the surfaces of polycrystalline PTFE films and powder. It was characterized by resonance-enhanced Raman scattering, photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The resonance Raman spectrum indicates that the reduced PTFE surface contains trans-polyacetylene (trans-(CH)x) with polyene conjugation lengths consisting of 12–28 olefin units. trans-(CD)x is formed when Me2SO-d6 is used as the reaction solvent, indicating that the protons on the polyacetylene originate from the solvent used in the reduction reaction. Infrared spectra also show the presence of a lesser amount of a carbonaceous fraction composed of aromatic rings and C=C bonds.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2992-2996
Number of pages5
JournalMacromolecules
Volume19
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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