Abstract

The redox behavior of 2,3,5-triphenyl-277-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) in the presence of different polyelectrolytes such as poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate-co-sodium maleate) at two different comonomer compositions (P(SS1-co-MA1) and P(SS 3-Co-MA1)), poly(sodium acrylate-co-sodium maleate) (P(AA1-Co-MA1)), and poly(sodium acrylate) (PAA) is studied. Due to aromatic - aromatic interactions, the polyelectrolytes containing benzene sulfonate groups produce a decrease on the reduction rate of TTC in the presence of ascorbic acid (ASC) and a shift of the anodic and cathodic peaks to higher negative potentials for the electrochemical reaction of TTC. As an important conclusion, these effects are a function of the linear aromatic density of the polyelectrolytes. © 2008 American Chemical Society.