Electrochemical investigation of reduction of mercury complexes of 2-aminocyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid and some of its derivatives at mercury electrodes

Electrochemical techniques of polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and controlled potential electrolysis at mercury electrodes have permitted a detailed investigation of the reduction reactions associated with mercury 2-aminocyclopentene dithiocarboxylate complexes, Hg(ACD)(2), in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). As a complementary study, the electrochemistry of the ligands themselves was investigated in DMSO solutions and at mercury electrodes. The lability of mercury(II) complexes and their rapid interaction with elemental mercury strongly influence the nature of the redox processes observed at mercury electrodes. Reduction of Hg(ACD)(2) at a mercury electrode occurs in an overall two-electron step as: Hg(ACD)(2) + 2e(-) reversible arrow Hg + 2 ACD(-) although mercury(I) is implicated as an intermediate.