Voltammetric study of the oxidation of quercetin and catechin in the presence of cyanide ion

The reaction of electrochemically generated o-benzoquinones from oxidation of quercetin and catechin as Michael acceptors with cyanide ion as nucleophile has been studied using cyclic voltammetry. The reaction mechanism is believed to be EC; including oxidation of catechol moiety of these antioxidants followed by Michael addition of cyanide ion. The observed homogeneous rate constants (k _obs) for reactions were estimated by comparing the experimental voltammetric responses with the digitally simulated results based on the proposed mechanism. The effects of pH and nucleophile concentration on voltammetric behavior and the rate constants of chemical reactions were also described.