Electrochemical studies of guanosine in DMF and detection of its radical cation in a scanning electrochemical microscopy nanogap experiment

J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Mar 23;127(11):3690-1. doi: 10.1021/ja042433y.

Abstract

This communication reports the findings of the investigation of the electrochemical (EC) oxidation of the important bimolecular guanosine (Gs) by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) using carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes (CF-UMEs) as the probe and substrate. The first attempt is to try to gain a steady-state voltammogram for EC oxidation of Gs at the CF-UME probe in aqueous buffer solutions with three different pH values. Experimental results indicate that due to serious adsorption of Gs on the CF-UME surface, an "S-shaped" steady-state voltammetric curve, which is required for SECM studies, cannot be obtained in aqueous solutions. To solve this adsorption problem, a series of experiments for studying the EC behavior of Gs in DMF are carried out. A well-defined "S-shaped" steady-state cyclic voltammogram (CV) could be achieved at the CF-UME in DMF containing 0.1M TBAPF6 as the supporting electrolyte. By combining several EC techniques, including cyclic voltammetry at glassy carbon (GC) macroelectrode and CF-UMEs, and chronoamperometry, the general chemical characteristics and EC behavior of Gs in DMF solution are studied. Furthermore, SECM detection of Gs*+, the radical cation of Gs electrogenerated in its first oxidation, is carried out by using feedback and tip generation/substrate collection modes in a nanogap configuration. Gs*+ has been electrochemically detected for the first time, with an estimated lifetime of </=40 mus and E degrees = 1.55 V versus NHE for the Gs/Gs*+ couple.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cations / chemistry
  • Dimethylformamide / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Guanosine / chemistry*
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Cations
  • Free Radicals
  • Guanosine
  • Dimethylformamide