PAIRED ELECTROSYNTHESIS AT THE FEMTOLITER SCALE - FORMATION OF 9,10-ANTHRACENEDIONE FROM THE OXIDATION OF ANTHRACENE AND REDUCTION OF DIOXYGEN

A system is described in which the unique properties of a pair of micr oband electrodes are exploited both to initiate and to probe the produ cts of a paired electrosynthesis using short-lived species. In particu lar, the oxidation of anthracene is coupled with the simultaneous redu ction of dioxygen in acetonitrile to yield the anthracene radical cati on and the superoxide anion. These latter react within a femtoliter sc ale volume to form initially 9,10-dihydro-9,10-epidioxyanthracene, whi ch rearranges into 9,10-anthracenedione and, presumably, dihydrogen vi a an electron transfer catalyzed process.