Electrochemical properties of polycyclic compounds studied by the polarographic method in anhydrous systems. IV. Polarographic study of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic hydrocarbons in ethylenglycolmonomethylether.

An experiment was carried out to determine whether there is any correlation between the values of polarographic reduction potentials of polycyclic hydrocarbons and their carcinogenic activity. A comparison of half-wave potentials of polarographic wave I and II of pyrene benzologs revealed that the carcinogenic ones become reduced in ethylenglycolmonomethylether on a mercury dropping electrode at more positive potentials than the inactive benzo- and dibenzopyrenes. The discussion bears both on the reduction mechanism of the compounds and on the relationship between the half-wave potentials and the absorption electron spectra measured in the same solvent.