Electrochemical behaviour of organolead compounds: Part I. Triphenyl-lead acetate

The electrochemical behaviour of triphenyl-lead acetate in 50% (v/v) ethanol has been investigated using various electrochemical techniques including polarography, cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. It has been found to give three/four polarographic waves. The first normal wave involves an one-electron irreversible reduction of triphenyl-lead ions giving triphenyl-lead free radicals which are strongly adsorbed at the DME giving rise to an adsorption prewave. The triphenyl-lead free radicals produced in the normal reduction step immediately react with mercury of the DME producing phenylmercury radicals and metallic lead. Wave II has been ascribed to the simultaneous reduction of triphenyl-lead free radicals and phenylmercury free radicals. The metallic lead produced in these processes undergoes oxidation at the electrode and “distorts” the “normal” adsorption prewave of step I. A mechanism of reduction is proposed and polarographic methods have been developed for determining triphenyl-lead compounds at ordinary level and down to submicromolar level.