A Sensitive Catalytic Wave Formed by Electrochemical Reduction of Morin in the Presence of an Oxidant KIO3

Abstract

The investigation of the electrogenerated free radical of morin reacting with an oxidant is helpful in understanding its antioxidant pharmacology. In phosphate buffer (pH 5.6 ± 0.1), the reduction of morin proceeds with a one-electron transfer of the C=O double bond into a free radical intermediate, which then delivers the final primary alcohol via a one-electron reduction. When an oxidant KIO3 is present, the free radical intermediate of morin is oxidized to regenerate the original ‘C=O’ bond. Further reduction processes are effectively inhibited, resulting in a sensitive catalytic peak, with the peak current enhanced 70 times.