Veratrole anodic oxidation in presence of perchlorate

Abstract

Veratrole (1,2-dimethoxybenzene) was electrooxidized on platinum in acetonitrile/ tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and acetonitrile / lithium perchlorate. A deposit was obtained, which was characterized by spectroscopic, microscopic and spectroelectro-chemical techniques. Hexamethoxytriphenylene radical cation species, associated to perchlorate counterions, were identified. Spectroelectrochemical experiments showed that the oxidation of perchlorate anions to perchlorate radicals produced dissolution of the deposit. When the potential was swept backward, the solid was regenerated and this process could be cycled. This property is of interest in fields such as sensors (electrical potential sensors), electronics (electrical contacts), optical devices (screens) and analytical chemistry (selective quantification).

Keywords

• electrooxidation
• electrodeposition
• electropolymerization
• polyveratrole
• organic switch