ANODIC-OXIDATION OF THIOUREIDO DERIVATIVES OF BIOGENIC-AMINES AT A GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE IN AN AQUEOUS-MEDIUM

The electrochemical oxidation of three biologically important amines, such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and norephedrine, after derivatizat ion with phenylisothiocyanate was investigated by means of cyclic volt ammetry on a glassy carbon electrode, The corresponding thioureido der ivatives can be oxidized through two one-electron steps at acidic pH v alues, presumably involving the intermediacy of proton transfers. A me chanistic pathway is also established on the basis of experimental dat a. Remarkably, this derivatization envisages a novel and advantageous protocol for the separation and subsequent determination of sympathomi metic amines by liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical det ection.