Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Vol.531, No.1, 9-18, 2002
Two-electon-transfer redox systems - Part 6. Two-electron oxidation of hexakis(benzylthio)benzene - a study by electrolysis and cyclic voltammetry
The anodic oxidation of the oligo-thioether hexakis(benzylthio)benzene in a dichloromethane + NBu4PF6 electrolyte is investigated by several complementary techniques: cyclic voltammetry, ESR spectroscopy, and macroscopic electrolysis (including fractional electrolysis in combination with the determination of open circuit potentials, i.e. 'potentiometric titration'). While ESR spectroscopy proves the formation of a pi-delocalized radical cation, the electrochemical techniques indicate further oxidation to a dicationic stage, which undergoes follow-up reactions. Analysis of fractional electrolysis results clearly shows strong potential compression for the two electron transfer steps with a difference of formal potentials DeltaEdegrees = 23 mV. This value is succesfully used to simulate the cyclic voltammograms of the starting compound.
Keywords:two-electron-transfer;sulfur compounds;anodic oxidation;electrolysis;cyclic voltammetry;simulation