Electrochemical oxidation of catechol has been studied in the presence of secondary amines as nucleophiles in aqueous solution with various pH values using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry of catechol in pure buffered solution (2.00 pH<9.00) shows one anodic and corresponding cathodic peak which relates to the transformation of catechol to correspondingo-benzoquinone and vice versa within a quasireversible two electron transfer process. Also, a little amount ofo-benzoquinone undergoes polymerization reaction. Cyclic voltammogram of catechol in the presence of nucleophilic amines, show one anodic peak in the first scan of potential but on the reverse scan the corresponding cathodic peak disappear and new peak is observed at less positive potential. In the second scan of potential also a new anodic peak is observed. On the other hand at high concentration of amines the redox peak attributable to formed polymer disappear showing that in this condition the polymerization reaction occurs at non-measurable extent. On the basis of these observations we propose an ECE mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of catechol in the presence of secondary amines.
