A POLAROGRAPHIC STUDY OF SOME QUINONE DERIVATIVES

The polarographic conditions used for the reduction of some derivative s of quinone on the dropping mercury electrode are herein described. T he polarograms were obtained in partially aqueous media, using dimethy lformamide as solvent, ammonium acetate as main electrolyte and gelati on or Triton X-100 as maximum suppressor. By this method, concentratio ns as low as 0.1-0.5 mg/mL could be determined for each quinonic compo nent. This practical work confirms that the larger the molecular masse s, are the more negative the reduction electrochemical potentials of q uinones are. This allows to conclude that not only the aminic groups o n the anthraquinonic nucleus affect the electrochemical reduction pote ntials, but also that of the cyclic amplification of quinonic compound s might lead to different potentials. Due to these variations of the p otential, selective and significant polarographic curves could be obta ined.