The polarography of oximes: I. 9,10-Phenanthraquinone monoxime

Polarography of 9,10-phenanthraquinone monoxime has been carried out in buffers (pH 3.50 to 13.40) of constant ionic strength 0.5 M in 40% alcoholic solutions at 35 ± 0.5 °C. The oxime group underwent diffusion-controlled reduction (4e) over the whole pH range studied. The number of electrons involved in the reduction was found coulometrically as well as by incorporating the value of the diffusion coefficient, obtained by using a McBain-Dawson cell, into the Ilkovic equation. Controlled potential electrolyses and uv spectroscopic methods were used to identify the products. Koutecky's method was used to compute the kinetic parameters (αn_aand ?log k_f,h^o) for the reduction of the oxime group and reduction mechanisms are proposed.