Reactions of Hydrated Electron withN,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide in Aqueous Solution: A Pulse Radiolysis Study

Abstract

Abstract A hydrated electron reaction with N,N′ -methylenebisacrylamide (MBA, M) was studied in aqueous solution at different pHs using the nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique. The rate constant for this reaction was very high (2.8 ± 0.3 × 1010 dm3·mol−1·s−1) and diffusion controlled. Transient M˙− formed in the reaction of e a·q − with MBA (M) were characterized by their absorption spectrum (λmax at 290 and 380 nm), decay kinetics, and pK a. The subsequent reaction immediately after electron addition was shown to be cyclization of the M˙− species. The process of cyclization depends strongly on the pH of the medium and is faster as the pH is increased. Polymer formation was observed in the overall reaction, and evidence of the first propagation step leading to polymerization was provided.