POLAROGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF SOLVENTS ON THE REACTION OF Na AMALGAM WITH SOME VINYL MONOMERS.

Acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate, anthracene, and Na plus were studied polarographically in four solvent media: diglyme, DMSO, 25% H//2O in diglyme, and liquid NH//3. Cathodic shifts were observed for Na plus and anodic shifts for the vinyl monomers in DMSO, H//2O and NH//3. The values of DELTA E were used in interpretation of the solvent effects observed previously for the reaction of these monomers with Na amalgam. Liquid ammonia brings both MeAN and AN to very low DELTA E, and both reactions are very fast and yield only the hydrodimers. Water, on the other hand, has a large accelerating effect on the rate, but as it is a proton donor it yields only the reduced products.