Electrochemical properties of adriamycin adsorbed on a mercury electrode surface

Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of adriamycin has been studied by means of cyclic dc and ac voltammetry with a hanging mercury drop electrode, quinizarin being used as a model compound. Both adriamycin and quinizarin are strongly adsorbed on the mercury electrode with their aromatic ring planes oriented parallel to the electrode surface, and give two sets of reduction waves. The first wave, due to the quinone moieties of the adsorbed adriamycin and quinizarin, has been explained on terms of a two-step one-electron surface redox reaction. The formal standard redox potentials, semiquinone formation constants, and charge transfer rate constants of the surface redox reaction of the quinone moieties have been determined.