Electrochemical properties of polycyclic compounds studied by the polarographic method in anhydrous systems. III. Polarographic reduction potentials of carcinogenic nitrogen compounds in dimethylsulfoxide.

The polarographic reduction of a series carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic polycyclic nitrogen compounds in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide containing tetrabuthylammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte has been studied. The obtained results were compared with the number or with the position of nitrogen atoms in the molecules and with their carcinogenic activity. The values of half-waves potentials generally confirmed the mechanism proposed for the reduction of aromatic polycyclic carcinogenic hydrocarbons based on the polarographic experiments in dimethylsulfoxide. Agreement of the obtained results with the data reported by polarographic study in anhydrous dimethylformamide indicates, that the polarographic behavior of polycyclic nitrogen compounds in dimethylsulfoxide is very similar.