Electroinitiated Polymerization of Tetrahydrofuran

Electroinitiated polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was accomplished in organic electrolyte solutions by anodic electrolysis on platinum electrodes in a three‐compartment cell. THF was found to polymerize to form a viscose gel at 25°C. The rate of polymerization was followed by measuring the electrical resistance of the organic electrolyte solution as a function of time after the electroinitiation. The rate of polymerization was found to increase with the increase in the anodic charge passed. The average molecular weight of the polymer was determined to be by viscometry. The polymer was found to be "living" in nature. Electrochemical evidence was presented to show that the initiation occurred as a result of the electro‐oxidation of THF rather than the anion.