POSSIBLE STRUCTURE OF PARATHIOCYANOGEN .2. ELECTROCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS, C-13 NMR AND CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENTS ON UNDOPED AND IODINE DOPED SAMPLES

Parathiocyanogen or polythiocyanogen (SCN)x has been synthesized by the anodic oxidation of NaSCN solutions in methanol. The structure of parathiocyanogen (SCN), has been studied by means of elemental analysis, IR, UV, C-13 NMR and ESR spectroscopy and also by comparison with a triazine-based model compound. All data collected clearly show that parathiocyanogen is structurally different from the triazine-based structure. On the basis of the data collected, the most probable structure should be a linear one, very similar to the one accepted for polysulphur nitride. Upon doping with iodine vapour the specific conductivity of parathiocyanogen increases by several orders of magnitude, as expected from a semi-conductive polymer.