Electrochemical properties of polycyclic compounds studied by the polarographic method in anhydrous systems. VIII. The influence of proton-donor on reduction of carcinogenic nitrogen compounds in dimethylformamide.

The authors have studied the electrochemical behavior of a series of carcinogenic and inactive heterocyclic compounds in anhydrous medium in the presence of a proton-donor. As anhydrous medium the authors used anhydrous dimethylformamide as proton-donor phenol. In the presence of proton-donor there had occurred on polarographic reduction of the employed carcinogenic heterocyclic compounds changes in the number of polarographic waves. Between the two original waves in these compounds there arose in the presence of phenol a new wave. In non-carcinogenic heterocyclic compounds such an effect of phenol was not noted. In the present paper the authors discuss the possible mechanism of electroreduction of carcinogenic and inactive heterocyclic compounds in anhydrous medium in the presence of a proton-donor.