THE BETA-HYDROXYETHYL RADICAL AS A MODEL SYSTEM FOR 2-PATHWAY ELECTROREDUCTION IN THE PRESENCE OF PROTON DONORS

The mechanism of electrode reactions of the beta-hydroxyethyl radical has been found experimentally to depend on pH, and a general kinetic s cheme of organic radical electroreduction is suggested which includes two parallel pathways of electron transfer, either to adsorbed radical R-ads or to its metastable protonated complex [R-ads. BH+]; the compe tition between these pathways is determined by the capacity of R-ads f or complex formation, the concentration of the proton donor, and elect ron transfer rates to R-ads and [R-ads. BH+].