Electrochemical oligomerization of sulfonanilides onto copper sheet anodes

Methanesulfonanilide and benzenesulfonanilide, salified by a suitable amine were electrolyzed with Cu sheets as anodes in water/organic solvent medium. Coherent insulating coatings on the Cu sheets were thus obtained, which on the basis of various analytical tests resulted to have an oligomeric structure. One electron oxidation of the anilide anions and carbonium-nitrogen coupling of the intermediate free radicals are suggested as the main steps of anilides oligomerization.