Catalytic behavior of osmium( II ), rhodium( III ) and ruthenium( II ) Phthalocyanines towards the electrooxidation of cysteine on glassy carbon electrodes

Glassy carbon electrodes (GCE's) modified with phthalocyanine complexes of Rh, Ru and Os are employed for the catalytic oxidation of cysteine. When cyanide and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are used as axial ligands giving (DMSO)(Cl)RhIIIPc, [(CN)2RhIIIPc]−, (DMSO)2OsPcII, and [(DMSO)2Ru(II)Pc]·2DMSO complexes, the peak currents for the oxidation of cysteine increase after each scan, indicating an increase in the catalytic activity of the electrode with repetitive scanning. This improvement in the catalytic activity of the GCE after the first scan is attributed to the formation of dimeric π cation radical species at the electrode surface.