The study of the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of diphenylamine derivatives in dipolar aprotic solvents: II. The electrochemical oxidation of 4-aminodiphenylamine in acetonitrile

The electrochemical oxidation of 4-aminodiphenylamine was investigated in acetonitrile. Voltammetry at a rotating Pt electrode, controlled potential electrolysis and cyclic voltammetry were the techniques followed. The oxidation occurred in two steps, the first involves the complete oxidation of one molecule through an ECE mechanism. The ejected proton—in the follow-up reaction—is received by the other molecule which undergoes oxidation at the potential of the second step. This result was confirmed from the effect of acid and base addition on the oxidation patterns.