ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF PYRETHROID INSECTICIDES AT GLASSY-CARBONELECTRODES IN ACETONITRILE

The electrochemical oxidation of the natural pyrethrins las pyrethrum extract, pyrethrin I and pyrethrin II) and 15 synthetic pyrethroid ins ecticides is reported. All pyrethroids may be irreversibly oxidized at glassy carbon electrodes in acetonitrile solutions under conditions o f cyclic voltammetry. Comparison of voltammograms of the pyrethroids a nd model compounds indicate common oxidation pathways exist for struct urally related compounds containing chrysanthemate and/or phenoxybenzy l moieties.;. However, on the time scale of bulk oxidative controlled potential electrolysis, a wide range of producers are formed and the o verall reaction schemes for oxidation of the compounds are complex.