Presumptive Structures of Activated Complexes of Polarographic Redox Reactions of Unsaturated Organic Compounds. I. Polarographic Reductions of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Aldehydes, and Quinones

Abstract

Abstract Activated complexes of the polarographic reductions of unsaturated organic compounds were assumed to be formed by the interaction of the π-molecular orbital of each compound with a hypothetical atomic orbital of the electrode employed. Linear correlations were obtained between the mutual differences in the polarographic half-wave reduction potentials of a series of unsaturated organic compounds and the respective differences in the π-stabilization energies calculated on the basis of the presumed structures of activated complexes. These linear relationships were considered to lend experimental support to the propriety of the presumed structures of the activated complexes of the polarographic reductions of unsaturated organic compounds.