Investigation of the reduction of 1,2-cyclohexanedione and methylglyoxal on mercury electrodes under pure kinetic conditions by linear-sweep voltammetry

Abstract

The electroreduction of both unhydrated 1,2-cyclohexanedione and methylglyoxal under pure kinetic conditions has been investigated using linear-sweep voltammetry. In acidic media, and for both compounds, the negative scans show S-shaped I - E curves at low scan rate values due to the dehydration reaction preceding the reductions. In the case of 1,2-cyclohexanedione the voltammograms correspond to a CEC process at very low pH values and to a CE irreversible process at neutral and basic pH values. The first one-electron transfer for methylglyoxal appears to be quasi-reversible.