Polarographic investigations of 7-methylguanosine

The mechanism of reduction of 7-methylguanosine (7-MeGuo) in buffered solution was studied by electrochemical methods. The polarographic reduction involves complex processes due to the presence of maxima (maximum of the first kind and maximum of catalytic reduction of protons). Consequently other techniques are required such as u.v. and n.m.r. spectroscopies, and chromatography for the identification of the reduction product.A mechanism of reduction is suggested in acid medium, the reduction saturates the imidazolium ring by fixation of two electrons and one proton.