Abstract
The electrochemical oxidation of catechol has been studied in the presence of azide ion (N3~-) as nucleophile in aqueous solution with various pU values using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voitammetry of catechol in the buffered solution (pH < = 9.0) shows one anodic and corresponding cathodic peak which corresponds to the transformation of catechol to, corresponding o-benzoquinone and vice versa within a quasi-reversible two electron transfer process. Although cyclic voltammogram of catechol in the presence of azide ion shows one larger anodic peak compared in the absence of azide, but, the corresponding cathodic peak disappears and a new cathodic peak appears at the more negative potential. Also, in the subsequent scans of potential, two new anodic peaks and corresponding cathodic peaks appear. On the basis of these observations, we propose an ECECE mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of catechol in the presence of azide ion.
NSTL