Anodic Voltammetry and Esr Studies of P-Phenylenediamine and Some of Its Derivatives in Acetonitrile

The electrochemical oxidation of p-phenylenediamine and its derivatives was studied on platinum electrode in acetonitrile. The oxidation mechanism was composed of two successive one-electron reversible waves. The hyperfine ESR spectra of the cation radicals were observed by electrolysis on the first wave. The generation of the same cation radicals could be performed by electrolysis on the second wave, indicating the presence of an electron exchange reaction between the dication and the parent molecule in solution.