Electrochemical impedance study of reduction kinetics of the pesticide vinclozoline

The reduction of vinclozoline, 3-(3,5 -dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-5-vinyl-1,3 -oxazolidine-2,4-dione, was studied in acetonitrile by electrochemical imp edance and by electrolysis combined with GC/MS identification of products. The electron transfer reaction was coupled with subsequent chemical reactio ns yielding two final products at -2.35 V. The main decomposition pathways included the elimination of the hetero-ring, which produced chloroaniline, whereas the cleavage of one chlorine atom was a much slower process. The ki netic parameters of both chemical processes correlated reasonably well with the observed yield of dichloroaniline and dechlorovinclozoline. (C) 2000 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.