Electrochemical oxidation of 6-propionyl-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthalene (prodan) in acetonitrile on Pt electrodes: Reversible dimerization of prodan radical cations

Abstract

The electrooxidation of 6-propionyl-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthalene (prodan) has been investigated for the first time. It has been performed on both conventional size platinum electrodes and platinum ultramicroelectrodes in acetonitrile by cyclic voltammetry with convolution analysis and controlled-potential electrolysis. The voltammetric responses at room temperature are similar to those corresponding to a kinetically controlled anodic electron-transfer process. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were also carried out at different concentrations of prodan and at different temperatures. Chemical transformation of the radical monocation formed after the electrochemical oxidation of prodan, as deduced from reverse controlled potential bulk electrolysis and cyclic voltammetry measurements, gives evidence for the reversible dimerization of prodan radical cations. Both diagnostic criteria and digital simulation confirm that radical–radical coupling is the reversible chemical reaction coupled to the initial electron transfer step, to give the corresponding dimeric dication. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the first electron transfer reaction and the dimerization process were estimated from digital simulation at 293 K. Values of 8.0 × 106 M–1 and 3.2 × 105 M–1 s–1 were determined for the dimerization reaction equilibrium constant and the dimer formation rate constant, respectively. The diffusion coefficient of prodan was determined from both limiting currents from convoluted cyclic voltammograms as well as limiting currents on ultramicroelectrodes. For such cases where the electron number exchanged in the electrode process is unknown, a method derived from the combination of data previously indicated is also proposed to obtain the diffusion coefficient of the electroactive species.Key words: prodan, cyclic voltammetry, reaction mechanism, reversible dimerization, electron transfer reactions, radical cation.