Oxidative dimerisation of Eugenol on Pt electrode in acetonitrile

Abstract

Electrochemical investigation of eugenol on a polycrystalline platinum surface in an acetonitrile solution containing tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate is described. The cyclic voltamogramme of the system, measured for an eugenol concentration of 2 mmol dm-3 at scan rate 500 mVs-1, consists of three oxidation peaks centred at 0.425,0.875 and 1.325V, with respect to saturated calomel electrode. The constant potential electrolysis of the system at + 1.325 V resulted in the complete conversion of eugenol to its dimer, which is formed by coupling through the benzene nucleus of eugenol. A plausible mechanism is proposed for this electrochemical conversion.