Interaction between polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and sodium ion in poly (oxyethylene)

The ion-ion interaction of the ion pairs between radical anions of π-conjugative molecules (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, AR) such as anthracene, phenanthrene or naphthalene, and sodium ion in CH₃(OCH₂CH₂)_xOCH₃ was evaluated from ionic conductivity measurement. The rate of ion-dissociation increased as either the number of (oxyethylene) unit (x) or the electron affinity of AR increased. This indicates that the continuous (oxyethylene) units are more favorable for ion-dissociation and a molecule having higher ability to become a radical anion shows higher rate of dissociation.