The electrochemistry of proteins and related substances: Part II. Insulin

The electroreduction of insulin in pH 7.4 solution was studied at the hanging mercury drop electrode by cyclic voltammetry and at a mercury pool electrode by controlled potential coulometry. The proposed mechanism involves reduction of an adsorbed monolayer of insulin (maximum coverage of 10 μC cm^?2) in a four-electron reaction at about ?0.6 V vs. SCE resulting in breakage of two of the three disulfide bonds in the molecule. Fast reoxidation leads to recovery of much of the reduced species. At longer time (ca. 100 s) a steady state is reached where the reductions and reoxidation involve reversible two-electron reactions.     

Catalytic currents of albumin at the hanging mercury drop electrode

Bovine serum albumin (BSA), as well as completely reduced BSA denoted by P (SH)₃₅, are adsorbed on the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) from alkaline buffer solutions. When time is allowed, a monolayer is adsorbed from very dilute (10^?9M) BSA solutions in ammoniacal and borate buffers. With a monolayer of adsorbed protein the voltammograms at the HMDE are then identical in a given ammoniacal or borax buffer containing cobalt(III) or (II) and different BSA concentrations. Voltammograms of P (SH)₃₅ are virtually identical with those of native BSA. At the HMDE the second Brdi?ka current is proportional to concentration of cobalt(III) or (II) and the first current nearly so. Incompletely or completely adsorbed BSA or P (SH)₃₅ is not desorbed on keeping the HMDE for one hour in ammonia buffers. An incomplete layer of adsorbed BSA or P (SH)₃₅ is relatively rapidly desorbed at ?1.6 V (vs. SCE) and a complete film at ?1.65 V, some desorption occurring at ?1.6 V. Upon desorption, the second Brdi?ka current decreases faster than the first one; this is particularly striking in 1 M ammonia buffer. The rate of desorption is increased by calcium chloride, but the rate of adsorption is not, or only slightly, increased in the presence of calcium. Incomplete adsorption occurs at ?1.60 V (vs. SCE) and no adsorption at ?1.65 V. Indications are obtained that “presodium currents” yield a slight plateau at ?1.67 to ?1.70 V, the plateau currents being attributed to adsorbed BSA, while unadsorbed BSA yields catalytic currents without a plateau, the currents merging with the residual one of the buffer. Calcium chloride greatly increases the presodium currents. From many kinetic data obtained at the dropping mercury electrode (DME) and from results at the HMDE it is concluded that, depending on the BSA concentration, Brdi?ka currents at the DME are partly of a kinetic and partly of a surface adsorption nature and partly diffusion-controlled. Adsorption equilibrium is not attained at the DME at 25° at concentrations of BSA smaller than 10^?6M.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence in mechanistic investigations of electroorganic reactions: Part III. Reduction of some disulfides at the dropping mercury electrode

In the simultaneous cathodic reduction of diphenyl disulfide (Ph?S?S?Ph) or dibenzoyl disulfide (Ph?CO?S?S?CO?Ph) and a series of fluorescent aromatic hydrocarbons A at the dropping mercury electrode in dimethylformamide the emission of A is observed. This electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) originates from the electron transfer between A^? and the radicals Ph?S or Ph?COS, which are formed in a one-electron reductive cleavage of the disulfide bond by A^?. As an intermediate the anion radical Ph?S?S?Ph^? or Ph?CO?S?S?CO?Ph^? is assumed. In the case of Ph?S?S?Ph the ECL intensity is enhanced by proton donors (water or benzoic acid), which increase the cleavage rate of Ph? S?S?Ph^? in an electrophilic attack by the proton. The relatively negative threshold reduction potential of A (?1.4 to ?1.6 V) for the ECL in comparison with the half-wave potential (?0.85 V) supports a mercury-assisted heterogeneous reduction mechanism of Ph?S?S?Ph. The intensity-potential curves and the intensity—time curves at the mercury drop were measured for different concentrations of Ph?S?S?Ph and A and for different mercury pressures. No luminescence could be detected with o,o′-dinitrodiphenyl disulfide and diethyl disulfide.     

Electrochemical reduction of S-oxides of diphenyl disulfide: Part II. Polarography in aqueous ethanol

In 50% ethanol the polarographic reduction of the S-oxides of diphenyl disulfide results in a fission of the sulfur-sulfur bond. Diphenyl disulfone is reduced by 2 electrons per molecle with benzenesulfinate ion as reduction product and gives rise to one polarographic wave. In the polarograms of phenyl benzenethiolsulfonate as well as phenyl benzenethiolsul-finate several waves appear due to the intermediate formation of a mercury compound, which is strongly adsorbed at the mercury electrode. Under polarographic and coulometric conditions the thiolsulfonate is reduced by 2 electrons in all with benzenesulfinate ion and thiophenol as reduction products. The total limiting current of the thiolsulfinate corresponds to a reduction by 4 electrons whereas 3 electrons per molecule are exchanged in coulometric experiments at a Hg-pool with thiophenol as the main reduction product.     

The CuII−CuI−Cu0(Hg) system in the presence of benzotriazole: Part II. A chronocoulometric investigation

Both the oxidation of Cu⁰ at dropping amalgam electrodes immersed in solutions of benzotriazole (BTA) and the reduction of Cu^II at a dropping mercury electrode from BTA solutions have been investigated by the single potential-step chronocoulometric technique. The dependence of the charge Q(t) flowing as a consequence of a given potential jump E_i→E_f upon the initial and final potentials E_i and E_f, as well as upon the time t elapsed from the instant of the potential jump provides direct evidence for the presence of a single adsorbed monolayer of a Cu^I compound on a mercury electrode immersed in a Cu^II solution containing BTA, at applied potentials positive to ≈?0.4 V/SCE. Analogous measurements carried out at dropping amalgam electrodes reveal the presence of a single adsorbed monolayer of a Cu^I compound, or else of an adsorbed multilayer, depending on the potential range investigated. The results of the chronocoulometric measurements are in agreement with those of the polarographic measurements of Part I.     

Cathodic stripping voltammetry of the peptide felypressin in trace amounts

Felypressin, a peptide containing eight amino acids including cystine, is studied by cathodic stripping voltammetry (c.s.v.) at a mercury drop electrode at pH 4.6 in the concentration interval 5 × 10^?9-7 × 10^?7 M. Excess of copper(II) ions is required to obtain the c.s.v. activity. The stripping peak potential is ?0.55 to ?0.70 V vs. SCE depending on the excess of copper(II). The accumulated product is adsorbed both in its oxidized and reduced state. Interference from c.s.v.-active substances which desorb in the reduced state can be eliminated by applying a repetitive cyclic scan and evaluating the second or third scan. Lypressin and somatostatin, two other cystine-containing peptides, are also c.s.v.-active.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of mitoxantrone on mercury electrodes

The electrochemical behaviour of mitoxantrone (MXT), an important antineoplastic agent, has been studied at mercury electrodes. The nature of the process taking place at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) was clarified. The electrochemical behaviour observed was in close agreement with theoretical predictions for an adsorbed molecule which is reversibly reduced. Both the molecule and its reduced product appeared to be adsorbed at the surface of the electrode. Adsorptive stripping voltammetry has been proven to be advantageous over any other assay technique, allowing 5 x 10(-11)M MXT to be detected. The interference arising from surfactants competing for the adsorption sites at the electrode have been studied and the possibility of MXT determination in dilute urine samples has been shown. Some interesting data, such as the MXT adsorbing surface area and the kinetic constant of the associated coupled chemistry reaction were also determined.     

The dependence of the kinetics of some simple outer-sphere electrode reactions on the nature of the electrode material

The kinetics of a number of simple inorganic electrode reactions that are known or expected to follow outer-sphere pathways have been examined at mercury, silver, platinum, and gold-aqueous interfaces in order to explore the effects of varying the electrode material on outer-sphere reactivity. The electroreduction kinetics of Co(III) ammine complexes exhibited only mild dependences on the nature of the electrode material which were compatible with the expected variations in double-layer effects. However, the electrooxidation of Cr²⁺ proceeded at strikingly higher overpotentials on the solid surfaces compared with mercury electrodes. Similar effects were also seen for the electrooxidation of V²⁺, Eu²⁺ and Ru²⁺ in the presence of Cr²⁺. Much larger rate constants were observed for these aquo reactions at solid surfaces in the absence of Cr²⁺, although Cr²⁺ had no influence on Co(NH₃)₆³⁺ electroreduction, or any reaction at mercury electrodes. It is speculated that the very large substrate effects upon the electrode kinetics of aquo couples arise from the influence of the inner-layer water structure on the reactant-solvent interactions experienced by these “structure-making” reactants at their plane of closest approach. The inhibiting influence of Cr²⁺ may be due to its ability to efficiently remove adsorbed catalytic contaminants by incorporation into a substitutionally inert Cr(III) electrooxidation product by means of a ligand-bridge mechanism.     

Phase-selective a.c. adsorptive stripping voltammetry of lumazine on a hanging mercury drop electrode

The electrochemical behavior of lumazine (LMZ), an important antibacterial agent, has been studied at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The nature of the process taking place at the HMDE was clarified. Its adsorption behavior at HMDE has been studied by using a.c and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Both the molecule and its reduced product appeared to be adsorbed at the surface of the electrode. Controlled adsorptive accumulation of LMZ on the HMDE provides the basis for the direct stripping measurement of that compound in the subnanomolar concentration level. Experimental and instrumental parameters for the quantitative determination were optimized. Phase-selective a.c voltammetry provided the best signal and gave a detection limit of 0.15 μg L^–1 (9.0 × 10^–10 mol/L) LMZ in aqueous solution. Molecules or ions which may interfere were studied.     

Electrochemical studies of homocysteine and homocystine at mercury electrodes

The behaviour of homocysteine and cysteine at mercury electrodes is compared. The one-electron oxidation associated with thiols is shown to be the same for both compounds in acidic phosphate buffer, giving rise to an adsorbed thiol—mercury complex, (RS)₂Hg, at the electrode surface. Formation of this complex is utilized in the cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of homocysteine; the detection limit is 10^?9 M after a deposition time of 90 s at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The similar E_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} values for homocysteine and cysteine mean that prior separation is needed for their individual determination. Amperometric detection with a mercury-coated goal electrode after separation by cation-exchange liquid chromatography provides a method for the simultaneous determination of both compounds. Reduction of homocystine at the mercury electrode is also compared to that of cystine. The more negative reduction potential, and the maximum observed for homocystine on d.c. polarograms, which is not seen for cystine, is attributable to different reaction kinetics at the mercury electrode; the products of both the 2-electron reductions are the corresponding thiol-containing amino acids.     

Quantum chemical studies of the chemisorption of water and of unhydrated and hydrated halide ions on mercury

Local structures on electrode interfaces can be explored by quantum chemical investigation of medium-sized systems consisting of a cluster of substrate (metal) atoms, one or several solvent molecules, and/or at least one ion to be adsorbed at the interface. For the study of water adsorption and halide ion adsorption (unhydrated as well as hydrated) on a mercury surface, we have used the standard CNDO method together with geometrical optimization of the atom positions.In this paper, the following topics have been treated: (a) adsorption of a single water molecule in different positions on a close-packed plane cluster of seven mercury atoms; (b) adsorption of unhydrated halide ions (Cl^?, Br^?, I^?) in the “on-top” or hollow position on the mercury surface; (c) adsorption of monohydrated halides on the mercury surface. Further studies including solvation by six water molecules are discussed.The calculations provide information about minimum-energy geometries, energetic data, and local charges. Furthermore, they allow some conclusions about water mobility and reorientation on a close-packed metal surface, water orientation under the combined influence of an adsorbed ion and the metal surface, and trends of charge distribution in the halide series to be drawn. Calculations are critically discussed in the light of experimental and other quantum chemical data.     

Electrochemical study of potassium isobutyl xanthate at a mercury electrode.

Polarographic studies of potassium isobutyl xanthate at a mercury electrode reveal that the product of an anodic reaction is strongly adsorbed at the mercury surface, as indicated by a prewave. The adsorbed film greatly affects the characteristics of the anodic wave of xanthate in an aqeous medium. The current of total wave is proportional to the concentration of xanthate from 0.32 to 1.6 mM.     

Linear-sweep polarographic determination of active chlorine in aqueous solutions containing phenylthiourea

The linear-sweep polarographic determination of active chlorine is based on its reaction with phenylthiourea in acidic phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) containing potassium chloride. The product, C,C-diphenyldithiodiformamidine, is strongly adsorbed and then reduced at a mercury electrode with two peaks at about ?0.35 V and ?0.87 V (vs. SCE). In the presence of 0.05 M potassium chloride, the potential of the first peak shifts positively to ?0.31 V. This peak provides high sensitivity and selectivity for the determination of traces of active chlorine. The linear range is 1×10^?7?2.5×10^?5 M and the detection limit is 5×10^?8 M (3.6 μg l^?1). The method is used for the direct determination of active chlorine in tap water. The mechanism of the reaction was studied by cyclic voltammetry, electrolysis and potentiometric titration. The first peak (?0.35 V) is ascribed to the reduction of a mercury (II) sulfide film produced by reaction of the adsorbed dithio product with mercury. In the presence of 0.05 M chloride, the formation of a mixed HgS·xHg₂Cl2 film shifts the peak to ?0.31 V.     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Albendazole at a Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode

ABSTRACT

Albendazole is determined by differential-pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry at a hanging mercury drop electrode using the reduction peak of its copper(II) complex at ?0.28V at an accumulation potential 0.0V vs. Ag/AgCl electrode. The optimum conditions of pH, accumulation potential and accumulation time were studied. The calibration graph for the determination of albendazole was linear in the range 3.0X10^?8 - 9X10^?7M with a relative standard deviation of 2.8%. The detection limit was 1.0X10^?8M after 180s accumulation at 0.0V. The effect of common excipients and metal ions on the peak height of albendazole was studied. The presence of Cu²⁺ ions forms a stable complex with albendazole which is strongly adsorbed at the mercury electrode surface. The method was applied to the determination of the drug in commercially available dosage forms.     

Polarographic currents in potassium peroxydisulphate-alkali halide systems and the determination of peroxydisulphate ion

Potassium peroxydisulphate-alkali halide systems have been studied by d.c. and a.c. (sine wave) polarography. When the mercury drop of the mercury electrode becomes covered by a film of adsorbed bromide or iodide ions, a peak due to peroxydisulphate ion is found in the a.c. polarogram at a potential more negative than that of the halide peak. This peak is probably due to a product of a chemical reaction between the peroxydisulphate ion and halide ion close to the surface of the DME. The determination of the peroxydisulphate ion by a.c. polarography is described.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of cyanuric chloride

Cyanuric chloride (2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) can be determined by fastscan differential pulse polarography in methanolic acetate buffer solution at pH 5.6 at a hanging mercury drop electrode. At positive potentials, the insoluble salt formed between cyanuric chloride and mercury(I) is adsorbed on the mercury surface and the d.p.p. current is enhanced. The detection limit is 0.2gmg ml^?1. Cyanuric chloride in air can be determined after absorption in methanol.     

某些雄性和同化激素的吸附行为和电化学测定

某些雄性激素和同化激素能在不同条件下吸附在静汞电极上。具有１７－羟基的化合物仅在带负电的电极表面吸附；而具有１７－酯化基团的化合物则在开路下即可进行吸附。所吸附的激素在电位扫描时，于－１．３－１．５Ｖ之间可被还原。因此，采用吸附伏安法可以灵敏地测定不同类型的激素。本文拟定了分析条件并测定了药片中激素的含量，同时也探讨了检测尿样中同化激素的可能性。     

Characteristics of a new catalytic hydrogen current observed with albumin in the presence of cobalt(III) or (II) at the hanging mercury drop electrode

When the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is placed in a solution which is 0.1 M in ammonia and 0.1 M in ammonium chloride and about 5 to 10×10^?4M in cobalt(III)-hexamine or cobalt(II) chloride and in very small concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA), the protein is slowly adsorbed. When the adsorption is highly incomplete and the HMDE is kept for 30 s at about ?1.05 V vs. SCE, “active cobalt’ is deposited as a complex (Co(0)BSA). This is anodically oxidized at about 0.0 V to unstable Co(I)BSA). When the electrode is then rapidly (500 mV s^?1) cathodized, a catalytic hydrogen current (i_c) with peak at circa ?1.45 V is observed. In this way it is even possible to detect and estimate BSA in concentrations of the order of 10^?12M. A detailed study has been made of the characteristics of i_c under several conditions. “Active cobalt” on the HMDE does not affect Brdi?ka currents. Cystine and cysteine also yield the catalytic hydrogen current i_c under the same conditions as does BSA.     

Interaction between a stationary mercury electrode and a hydrogen bubble in an aqueous sodium dodecyl sulphate solution

The stability and rupture of thin liquid films formed from an aqueous solution of Na₂SO₄ (0.05 mol dm⁻³) in the presence of 5 × 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³ sodium dodecyl sulphate between a stationary mercury electrode and a hydrogen bubble has been investigated as a function of electrode potential. The electrostatic component of disjoining pressure has been calculated using the results of capacity measurement for the mercury-solution interface. Special attention has been paid to films formed on positively charged mercury surfaces. In this case, despite the positive electrode polarization, the outer Helmholtz plane potential is found to be negative due to the high surface activity of the dodecyl sulphate anion. The van der Waals component of disjoining pressure has been calculated on the basis of a double sheath model of the two interacting surfaces, taking into consideration the orientation of the adsorbed surfactant layers at the interfaces. Calculations of the total disjoining pressure can explain film stability at negative mercury potentials, but do not explain film rupture when the polarization of the mercury is positive. The existence of a hydrophobic attractive interaction is postulated in the latter case.     

Linear sweep voltammetric determination of protein based on its interaction with Alizarin Red S

In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of the interaction of Alizarin Red S (ARS) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated on the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). In the acidic solution (pH 4.2), ARS can be easily reduced on the HMDE and it has a well-defined polarographic wave at −0.29 V (SCE). On addition of BSA or human serum albumin (HAS) into the ARS solution, the reduction peak current of ARS decreases without the movement of the peak potential and the appearance of new peaks. The study shows that a new electrochemically non-active complex is formed via intercalation of ARS with BSA or HSA, which can not be reduced on the Hg electrode. The decrease of reductive peak current of ARS is proportional to BSA and HSA concentration in the range of 2.0–60 and 2.0–40 mg l⁻¹, respectively. The detection limit of BSA and HSA is 1.0-mg l⁻¹. The analytical results of human serum and urine samples by this method were in good agreement with the Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 assay. The binding number and the binding interaction mechanism are also discussed.