Theory of staircase cyclic voltammetry of two electrode reactions coupled by a chemical reaction

Two reversible electrode reactions that are connected by either reversible or totally irreversible chemical reactions are theoretically analysed by staircase cyclic voltammetry. The dependence of peak potentials on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters is calculated. If the mechanism is permanently in equilibrium, the stability constant of the reversible chemical reaction can be determined. Furthermore, the critical kinetic parameter is determined and its application to the measurement of the forward rate constant of the chemical reaction is demonstrated. Also, the influence of the kinetics of electrode reactions is discussed. Keywords: ECE mechanism; Cyclic voltammetry; Theory

Electroorganic synthesis of disulfonamide substituted p-benzoquinone by hydroquinone electrochemical oxidation

This study illustrates electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone and 4-amino-6-chloro­benzene-1,3-disulfonamide in the phosphate buffer solution evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the peak of the hydroquinone oxidation potential in the presence of 4-amino-6-chlorobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide is shifted to more positive values compared to hydroquinone alone. Based on these results, the electrochemical synthesis of new disulfonamide substituted p-benzoquinone is proposed and carried out via electro­chemical oxidation of hydroquinone in the presence of 4-amino-6-chlorobenzene-1,3-di­sulfonamide in the electrolytic cell. It has been concluded that hydroquinone is converted into disulfonamide substituted p-benzoquinone via an ECE mechanism. The successful electrochemical synthesis was conducted in the water/ethanol mixture under green conditions without any toxic reagents or solvents and with high atom economy.

Electrochemical Reaction Mechanism of Tiron in Acidic Aqueous Solution

Electrochemical oxidation of tiron in the presence of H2O as a nucleophile in strongly acidic aqueous solutions was studied by cyclic voltammetry, controlled-voltage coulometry and spectrometric investigations. The mechanism of electrochemical reaction is confirmed by spectrophotometric tracing in various times of controlled-voltage coulometry. The voltammetric and spectrophotometric foundations indicate that a 1,4-Michael addition of H2O from its hydroxy moiety to the position 4 of electrochemically derived o-quinone is occurred. The electrochemical oxidation and reduction of tiron has been successfully accomplished by controlled-voltage coulometry in a redox flow-through type cell and the final electro-reduced product was characterized by spectrophotometric, 1H NMR and mass spectrometric methods. It is demonstrated that the electro-oxidation of tiron follows an ECE mechanism in acidic aqueous solutions, leading to formation of a new compound of para- benzoquinone derivative.

Electrolytic Generation of Nano-Scale Carbon Phases with Framework Structures in Molten Salts on Metal Cathodes

An electrochemical study of mechanisms of electrodeposition of carbon solid phases from halide melts (Na,K|Cl; Na,K,Cs|Cl), saturated with carbon dioxide under an excessive pressure of up to 1.5 MPa, has been carried out in the temperature range 550 - 850 °C by cyclic voltammetry. It has been found that the cathode process occurs in three steps at sweep rates of less than 0.1 Vs−1, and its electrochemical-chemical-electrochemical (ECE) mechanism is suggested. It has furthermore been found that cathodic deposits contain nano-sized carbon particles of different forms and structure: blocks of amorphous carbon, crystalline graphite, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and nanofibres. The outer diameter of the tubes is 5 - 250 nm, and the internal diameter is 2 - 140 nm. A correlation between the product structure and yield against electrolysis conditions and regimes has been established.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Reduction of Methyl 3-Halo-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylates

A preparative method of synthesis of the new methyl 3-iodo-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate was elaborated. Electrochemical behavior of methyl 3-chloro-, bromo- and iodo-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylates 1-3, and of their reduction and dimer products 4, 5 in anhydrous dimethylformamide has been investigated at mercury and platinum electrodes using polarography, cyclic voltammetry and voltammetry on a rotating platinum disk electrode. The reduction in divided cells follows the ECE mechanism (electron - chemical step - electron), where the primary radical anion is split into a halide anion and neutral heterocyclic radical, which is immediately reduced by the second electron and protonated. The only reduction product is the methyl 1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate (5); whereas the EDim mechanism (electron - dimer formation) leading to the dimeric species 4 was not observed under the above conditions. Reduction of 1-3 on platinum causes formation of a blocking film on the electrode. Sonication during electrolysis successfully reactivates the electrode.