Electrochemical polymerization of 1,3-propanedithiol (PRDT), 1,4-butanedithiol (BUDT), 1,5-pentanedithiol (PEDT), and 1,10-decanedithiol (DEDT) for synthesizing polymers containing disulfide bonds was investigated. PRDT, BUDT, PEDT and DEDT gave polymers by electrochemical polymerization under high diluted alpha,omega -alkanedithiols. The polymerization activity was found to depend on the alkyl chain of the alpha,omega -alkanedithiols. In the electrochemical polymerization of PRDT, the molecular weight of polymer gave a maximum at a supplied current quantum of 1 F/mol. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.