Portugaliae
Electrochimica Acta

The electrochemical investigation, by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis at Pt electrodes, is reported for complexes trans- or eis-[PtHRL„][R = cyano- or trifluoro-alkyl, phenyl or cyano-phenyl; L = tertiary phosphine or. 1/2 diphosphine] in acetonitrile, and they are shown to undergo Pt-H bond cleavage (with proton extrusion) upon anodic oxidation at ca. 0.3 ~ 1.7V vs. SCE.

The redox properties of various Schiff bases (HL, derived from condensation of tryptamine with salicylaldehyde derivatives) and of some of their complexes [ML^] (M = Co, Ni or Cu) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry and cathodic controlled potential electrolysis, in aprotic media. They present both anodic and cathodic processes which, in the case of the complexes, can be either ligand or metal centred, the redox potentials of the latter, for both the M(II/III) and M(I/II) redoxpairs, following the order: Co < Ni < Cu.

Reaction of ^a»s-[ReCl(N2)(dppe)2] (dppe=Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with NCR (R=aryl) in toluene and under sunlight gives the corresponding cis-[ReCl(NCR)(dppe)2] compounds. The electrochemistry of these complexes in 0.2M [Bu4N][BF4]/THF is studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis, at Pt electrodes, which indicate the occurrence of an electro induced cis-to-trans isomerization.

The electrochemical behaviour of some camphor(+) derivatives (L) is reported and their electronic properties discussed. The redox properties of some new palladium(II) complexes, [PdC^], [PdCl2(NCMe)L] and [PdCl2L], with such ligands, are also discussed. This study was done by cyclic voltmmetry at a Pt electrode in an aprotic medium, commonly 0.2M [Bu4N][BF4]/CH2Cl2- In a few cases, controlled potential electrolysis was performed at a Hg pool or a Pt gauze electrode, for cathodic or anodic processes, respectively.

The cyclic voltammetric behaviour of fraA7S-[ReX(CN)(dppe)2][NBu4] (X=CI or H) and of products derived from alkylation, such as trans-[ReH(CNMe)(dppe)2], in aprotic medium and at a Pt electrode, is reported.

By cyclic voltammetry, at a Pt electrode, complexes trans-rReXLL'41 (X = N3, NCO or NCS; L = N2 or CO; L'= 1/2 Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 or PMe2Ph), in aprotic medium, undergo a first gi/as/'-reversible single electron anodic process at Eox1/2 in the range 0.12-0.36 (L = N2) or 0.55-0.73 V vs. SCE (L = CO). Within each of these series, the variation of the oxidation potential is determined by the effect of the pseudo-halide ligand (X) (Eox1/2 increases in the order N3 < NCO < NCS), following their net electron donor/acceptor ability, as measured by the PL ligand parameter (N3" > NCO" > NCS" » N2 > CO), and the observed values of Eox1/2 for the dinitrogen complexes are shown to agree with those predicted on the basis of the additive EL parameter. The values of the electron-richness parameter, Es, for the metal sites trans-{ReX(dppe)2} (X = N3, NCO or NCS) have also been obtained, and linear correlations between Eox1/2 and IR v(N2) or v(CO) frequencies have been recognised.

Electroreduction of methylisocyanide to dimethylamine has been achieved by controlled potential electrolysis at the cathodic wave of trans-[FeH(CNMe)(PhoPCH2CH2PPh2)0] [BF4], in 0.2 M [Bu4N] [BF4J/ tetrahydrofuran and in the presence of phenol.

Mean activity coefficients of NaCl have been calculated, by means of the Pitzer theory, in mixed solutions of NaCl and NaH2P04 and of NaCl and Na2HP04, with ionic strength lower than 2 mol kg-1, at 25 °C. Electromotive force measurements, using a silver, silver chloride and a sodium ion selective electrodes, show nernstian response, in those mixed electrolyte solutions.

Liquid junction potentials between 0,099 mol kg-1 HC1 and 0,100 mol kgaKCl were measured without and with bridge solutions. Ag.AgCl electrodes of the thermal electolytic type and a novel cell design with liquid junction formed in a capilary tube with cylindrical geometry were used. The results were compared with calculated and experimental values obtained with a similar system but more complicated than the present one.

The electrochemical oxidation mechanism of a group of dimeric Vinca alkaloid type antineoplastic agents showed that homogeneous chemical reactions are coupled with a mu-ltistep electron transfer process that is also dependent on pH. The irreversibility of the process leads to final products that form an unreactive film that strongly adsorbs on the electrode surface. The differences encountered in the anodic oxidation mechanisms of the compounds studied can be explained in relation to their toxic effects.

Voltammetric studies of the octahedral Co(III) complexes with a pentadentate ligand (PICDIEN) and a ligand X (X= Cl~, Br", H20) in aqueous solution of 0.1M in KN03, pH 7 at Pt electrode were performed and the corresponding results are presented in this paper. Experimental values of E° for the complexes under study were estimated. Peaks A'/ A at potentials between -0.4 e +0.4 V vs e s c were attributed to the reduction and oxidation of Co(III), while peaks B/B' at E°= +0.90 V vs e s c are most probably due to the oxidation of Br -.

A kinetic study of the electroless autocatalitic deposition of copper-cobalt alloys from hypophosphit solutions is presented. As the cobalt is present in solution, it deposits. Its function is to promote the reducing agent oxidation which is not catalysed by copper surfaces. Degreased aluminium wires were used as substract. Several parameters were varied around standard conditions. Deposition rates were determined by gravimetric measurements and the elementar composition of the metallic deposits by X rays analysis (EDS/WDS). Also the ionic composition of each solution was calculated presupposing thermodinamic equilibrium. Distinct mechanisms were found. Activ centers only control deposition rates when cobalt molar percentages lower than 5. Hypophosphit concentration is a determinant factor if bellow 600 mol/m3. The deposition rate is sensivel to small pH variations only between 8.5 and 11. Citrate and boric acid are important to increase the reaction but should not exceed 50 mol/m3 and 400 mol/m3 respectively. It is suggested that the species resulting from the boric acid ionization are protons accepters along the metalization process.

In regard to the understanding of copper at the active site of "blue" proteins a series of open chain and macrocyclic N^S2-ligands have been studied potentiometricalfy, spectrophotometrically and voltammetrically. Cu2+ forms the species CuL2+ and sometimes CuLOH+, whereas Cu+ gives Cu(an)Lf^2+ (an — CH3CN), CuLH2+ and CuL+. From the stabilities of the Cu2+ and Cu+ species the redox potentials have been calculated and compared to the values obtained from cyclic voltammetry. The redox potentials for the open chain complexes are between 250 • 280 mV against SHE. The complexes with the macrocyclic ligands span a range of 340 mV, going from 80 to 420 mV against SHE, or six order of magnitude in relative stability reflecting the importance of subtle differences in steric requirements. This is exemplified through the X-ray structure of the Cu+ complex with one of the 16-membered macrocycles, which reveals a tetrahedral coordination geometry typical for the cuprous ion. A comparison between open chain and cyclic ligands shows that a macrocyclic effect is found for Cu2+, but not for Cu+. The ligand field strength is very different for the two types of ligands and the redox potentials are nearly independent of the chain length of the open chain ligands, but strongly depend on the ring size of the macrocycles.

After the impact produced by the introduction of anodic (and cathodic) stripping voltammetry as a very convenient method for the analysis of ultratrace compounds, especially metal ions, alternative methods for the pre-concentration step were investigated to extend the field of application of the stripping techniques to non-electroactive species. In adsorptive stripping voltammetry, species with some tendency to be adsorbed at electrode surfaces can be pre-concentrated in this way and then stripped just as in anodic or cathodic stripping voltammetry. This lecture is started with a general view of the methods used in the pre-concentration step of stripping voltammetric methods. Afterwards, focus is moved to adsorptive stripping voltammetry: first, some simple theoretical aspects are considered, related with the steps of adsorption and stripping; then, a reference is made to instrumentation, methodology and elimination of interferences; finally, examples of the use of the technique are presented.

A new electrolyte prepared from commercial poly(ethylene oxide) and neodymium triflate, in which the salt ions are solubilised by complexation with the oxygen atoms in the polymer structure, has been studied using ac conductivity measurements. The results obtained indicate that the levels of ionic conductivity registered in this system are similar to other multivalent ion based electrolytes. The nature of the charge transporting species in the electrolyte (cations, anions, charged or uncharged ion clusters) cannot be identified with the use of ac techniques and consequently only the total ionic conductivity is reported. The dependence of the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte on the concentration of added salt can however be correlated with the phase behaviour of the polymer - salt system.

The first harmonic alternating current polarography, with a selected phase angle of n/2 rad, gives structural and analytical information about the denaturation process of insulin. This method allows detecting any alteration in the composition and in the aggregational or conformational state of the protein. The reduction of the disulphide bonds and free Zn(II) gives complementary information on the capacitive contribution around the zero charge potential, for controlling the quality of the insulin samples. Kalousek K3 and K4 methods provide fast information about the structural state of proteins in solution. Proteins with disulphide bonds (as albumin and lysozyme) yield catalytic waves in Co(H)/amonia buffer that denote the different electrochemical activity of -SH lipophilic and hydrophilic residues.

Electrode surfaces modified, by monolayers of heavy metals underpotential deposited: Pt/M electrodes, electrode ads surfaces modified by over layers of their own oxides grown in-situ, i.e. Ir-oxide electrodes, and electrode surfaces with preferred orientations, namely Pt single crystals were the modified electrode surfaces selected for this lecture. The potentialities and advantages of the elec trochemical methods, namely cyclic voltammetry and potential step pulses to produce modified electrode surfaces and simultaneously to monitor changes and to test the stabili ty and the activity of the modified and non-modified electrode surface will be emphasized and illustrated with experimental data.

Porous carbon electrodes were prepared using carbon powders of different types using various catalysts. Physical properties of the prepared electrodes were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area analyser etc. Performance characteristics of these electrodes were evaluated by galvanostatic polarisation at various temperatures in 6M potassium and sodium hydroxide solutions.