ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATIONS .4. ELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BEHAVIOR OF 2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-4-(4-DIMETHYLAMINOPHENYL)-PHENOL .1. PHENOL AND THE SPECIES DERIVED FROM IT - PHENOXY RADICAL, PHENOLATE ANION AND PHENOXENIUM CATION

The anodic oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)phenol (IIa) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The stable products resulting from the oxidation are phenoxenium cation (IId) (which itself is reduced in two one-electron steps to the phenolate anion (IIc) via the phenoxy radical, IIb) and the protonated phenol (III) (which is oxidized to (IId) in a second peak at higher potential). A mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of phenol (IIa) is suggested. © 1979 Elsevier Sequoia S.A."