| Abstract: | The oxidation chemistry of 2‐hydroxypurine has been investigated in phosphate containing supporting electrolytes at pH 1.4–9.8 at a pyrolytic graphite electrode by voltammetric studies, spectral studies, controlled potential electrolysis and related techniques. The kinetics of decay of the UV‐absorbing intermediate generated during electrooxidation was followed spectrophotometrically and the decay occurred in a pseudo‐first‐order reaction. The course of the electrode reaction has been deduced to involve a 6e, 6H+ oxidation of 2‐hydroxypurine via the formation of 2, 8‐dihydroxypurine. The electrooxidation of 2‐hydroxypurine has been found to be an EC reaction (electrode reaction followed by chemical reactions) in which charge transfer is followed by competitive chemical reactions. A detailed interpretation of the redox mechanism of 2‐hydroxypurine has been presented. |
