Surface catalytic interconversion of hydroquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone occur at a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode (FTO) modified by the addition of the surface-bound couple, [Os(bpy)2((4,4’-PO3H2)2bpy)]3+/2+. Significant rate enhancements are observed with added solution buffers – phosphate, acetate, and citrate – and a surface-bound pyridine base. Analysis of cyclic voltammograms for the 2e– /2H+ couple, by use of the Butler-Volmer equation, point to the importance of acid-base effects and H-bonding in enhancing the reaction rate at the electrode.
Dongare, P.; Wang, Y.; Bass, D. M.; Meyer, T. J. Catalytic Interconversion of the Quinone/Hydroquinone Couple by a Surface-Bound Os(III/II) Polypyridyl Couple. J. Phys. Chem. C 2018, 122 (28), 16189-16194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b04920