1–[4–(2–ferrocenyl ethyl)–phenyl]–1–ethanol, a new ferrocene derivative, was synthesized and identified by various spectroscopic methods. The electrochemical behavior of a carbon paste electrode constructed by incorporating this derivative in a graphite powder–silicon oil matrix was studied in various buffered aqueous solutions by direct current cyclic voltammetry and double potential step chronoamperometry. The results show that the derivative incorporated into the carbon paste, can catalyze the oxidation of ascorbic acid. It has been found that under optimum conditions (pH 6.0), the oxidation of ascorbic acid at the surface of such an electrode occurs at a potential about 265 mV less positive than that at an unmodified carbon paste electrode. The catalytic oxidation peak current is linearly dependent on the concentration of ascorbic acid in the range 4×10–5 M–3×10–3 M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993. The detection limit (2σ) was determined as 3.8 × 10–5 M. This method was also used for the determination of ascorbic acid in pharmaceutical samples such as effervescent tablets, ampoules and multi-vitamin syrup.
