Abstract

Electrochemical study of catechol in the presence of ethyl cyanoacetate and its digital simulation

Author(s): RezaOjani, Jahan-Bakhsh Raoof, Rahman Hossienzadeh, AliAlinezhad

Electro-oxidation of catechol has been studied in the presence of ethyl cyanoacetate as a methylene nucleophile in water/ acetonitrilemixed solvents using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voltammogramof catechol has one anodic and corresponding cathodic peak which corresponds to the transformation to corresponding o-quinone and vice versa within a quasi-reversible two electron process. However, in the presence of ethyl cyanoacetate, cyclic voltammogram of catechol shows one higher anodic peak in the forward scan of potential and in the reverse scan, the cathodic peak disappears and a new peak appears in more negative potential. These results indicate that the o-benzoquinone derived from catechol participates in Michael addition reaction with ethyl cyanoacetate to form the corresponding adducts according to an ECE mechanism. Digital simulation of cyclic voltammograms was used to prove the proposed mechanism.Also, the values of , k° and the following chemical reaction constant were determined.