Received for review June 19, 1996. Accepted August 16, 1996.

Abstract:

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon fiber microelectrodes is used to detect the cyclic nitroxide 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy free radical (TEMPO) and three analogs. The electrochemical behavior of the TEMPO analogs at unmodified carbon fiber electrodes is found to differ greatly from their behavior at glassy carbon electrodes. After the electrode is coated with the polymer Nafion, the electrodes exhibit increased sensitivity to TEMPO and 4-amino-TEMPO. Voltammograms of the nitroxides at Nafion-coated electrodes indicate that the oxidized form (oxoammonium ion) and the free radical form have greatly different mobilities through the polymeric coating. Response times to changes in nitroxide concentration vary from subsecond at bare electrodes (all four analogs) and 4-hydroxy-TEMPO at modified electrodes to 1-3 s for TEMPO and 4-amino-TEMPO at modified electrodes. The detection limit for 4-amino-TEMPO is 50 M at an unmodified electrode and 5 M at a Nafion-coated carbon fiber electrode. The sensitivity of the Nafion-modified electrode to TEMPO, 4-hydroxy-TEMPO, and 4-amino-TEMPO can be improved by choosing a resting potential at which the oxoammonium ion form of the nitroxide is preconcentrated into the Nafion film. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and the modified carbon fiber electrodes, the reaction of two nitroxide free radicals with ascorbate can be monitored. This work shows that fast-scan voltammetry at microelectrodes is a sensitive method that can be used to follow reactions of cyclic nitroxide free radicals in solution.

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