Modification of electrochemical carbon by in situ generated carbenes

A composite of electrochemical carbon with LiF was prepared by cathodic defluorination of poly(tetrafluoroethylene). The extraction of LiF was carried out in aprotic medium employing the acetonitriIe-BF3 adduct. The isolated carbon material was derivatized by three different carbenes: CH2\, PhCH\ (Ph = phenyl) and CF3(CH3)C\. The products were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Blank experiments give evidence that the addition of carbene proceeds selectively via the polyyne linkages in electrochemical carbon. This allows us to estimate the polyyne content in electrochemical carbon. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.