Abstract

A comprehensive study of the electrochemical characteristics of 2-, 3-, and 4-nitroanisole isomers in three different electrolytic media has been carried out. Furthermore, kinetic characterization of the one-electron reduction product from these isomers in these media is also reported. Also, free radicals were characterized in aprotic media by electron paramagnetic resonance through their corresponding hyperfine splitting constants. In protic media (30% ethanol/0.1 M Britton-Robinson buffer pH 2-12) 2-, and 3-nitroanisole isomers gave an irreversible well-defined peak over the entire pH range on Hg in a reaction involving four electrons to give the hydroxylamine derivative. However, in the case of 4-nitroanisole the kinetic characterization of the corresponding nitro radical anion was successfully achieved in this medium at pH 10.5, exhibiting a k2disp value of 19,000 (M s)-1. In this medium the ease of reduction at pH 7 was 2-nitroanisole (2-NA) > 3-nitroanisole (3-NA) > 4-nitroanisole (4-NA). In mixed aqueous-organic media [0.015 M aqueous citrate dimethylformamide (DMF): 60:40, 0.3 M KC1, and 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) at pH ? 10.5 the isolation of the couple by cyclic voltammetry and the electrochemical characterization of the nitro radical anion corresponding to the three compounds were achieved. Calculated disproportionation second-order rate constants, k2disp, had an average value of 10,900 ± 930 (M s)-1, 2400 ± 400 (M s)-1, and 5000 ± 600 (M s)-1 for 2-NA, 3-NA, and 4-NA, respectively. Also, the reactivity of the radicals toward glutathione was quantitatively assessed through the calculation of the respective apparent interaction rate constants. In aprotic media (0.1 M TBAI in DMF) the nitro radical anions were more stable than in the mixed media, with the following second-order decay rate constant, k2dim, values: 1100 ± 100(M s)-1, 1600 ± 150 (M s)-1, and 650 ± 70 (M s)-1 for 2-NA, 3-NA, and 4-NA, respectively. © 2002 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.