Voltammetric responses of boron-doped diamond (BDD) and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes on the anodic oxidation of two dissimilar compounds namely 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene in acidic, neutral and basic media have been explored. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) analysis reveals that the BDD electrode shows wider cathodic potential window and lower background current in all the media than the GC. However, in the anodic side, the window is wide only in aqueous acidic medium and the background limit for both the electrodes is similar in both neutral and alkaline media containing solvents other than water. Further, the anodic oxidation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol takes place at less potential on the GC when compared to the BDD and the oxidation peak current is also higher on the former electrode. CV results show that no anodic peak appears for the oxidation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene on the GC electrode in any of the above media, whereas in the acidic medium, a broad anodic wave appears on the BDD. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.