The influence of disproportionation of the anion radical on the electrochemical reduction of 1,9-dimethyldibenzo[b,f]pentalene

The electrochemical reduction of 1,9-dimethyldibenzo[b,f]pentalene has been investigated in DMF by both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and dc polarography. The influence of the depolarizer concentration and electrode material (Pt and Hg) was studied. It was found that the first electron transfer is a reversible one under most conditions studied, whereas the second electron transfer was irreversible on Pt and quasi-reversible on the HMD. An overall EDISP.EC mechanism was suggested and discussed. It turned out that the first reduction process was accompanied by a disproportionation of the anion-radical to its parent hydrocarbon and dianion. The experimental waves were analysed on the basis of various theoretical procedures.