ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 35, Number 2
JKCSEZ 35(2)
April 20, 1991 

The reduction mechanism at a mercury electrode of o-cresolphthalexon(OCP) in strongly alkaline supporting electrolytes has been investigated by several electrochemical techniques. The radical formed after first one electron reduction uptake, dimerizes. The result of cyclic voltammetric investigation demonstrated the reversible nature of the electron transfer and standard rate constant was 3.27 × 10-2 cm/sec. The apparent irreversible behavior of the second wave is a result of the existence of a fast protonation following the second electron transfer. At low concentration of OCP(< 1 × 104M), cathodic current were remarkably adsorptive properties. Prolonged electrolysis was carried out at controlled potential of -1.85V, original violet color of the solution becames progressively weaker, and then colorless solution. The final product of an exhaustive electrolysis is electro-inactive. The appearence of four steps may be explained by the fact that the reduction of OCP elucidated ECEC mechanism.