Effect of Alcohols on Polarographic Reduction of Oximes

Abstract

Limiting currents of the protonated form of oximes decrease with increasing concentration of alcohols in alcohol-water mixtures. The measured current limits to a value corresponding to a two-electron reduction. The decrease is attributed to additions of the alcohol to the imine formed as intermediate. At a given concentration of the alcohol the drop of current increases in the sequence MeOH < EtOH < i-PrOH < tert-BuOH, following the increasing nucleophilicity of the alcohol.