Voltammetric study of the transfer of polyammonium ions at nitrobenzene / water interface

The transfer of polyammonium ions, poly[(dimethylimino)-1,6-hexanediyl] (n = 140, n being the degree of polymerization) ion and poly[(dimethylimino)(2-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl)imino-alpha,omega-alkanediylimino(1-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl)(dimethylimino)-alpha',omega'-alkanediyl] ([-N+ (CH3)2CH2CONH(CH2)x NHCOCH2N+ (CH3)2(CH2)y-]n, x = 2, 3, 4, or 6, y = 3 or 6, and n = 30-130) ions, at a polarizable nitrobenzene / water interface has been studied by normal pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. Despite the polydispersity of the preparations, by normal pulse voltammetry, an S-shaped current-potential curve with a well-defined limiting current, and, by cyclic voltammetry, a pair of anodic and cathodic peak currents due to the transfer of polyammonium ions across the interface were observed within the potential window. The voltammetric behavior is described. Also, the effect of ion-pair formation of the polyammonium ions with supporting electrolyte anions in nitrobenzene- and water-phases on the half-wave or midpoint potential of the ion-transfer, and the relation between the structure of the polyammonium ions and the transfer potentials are discussed.