New insights on the electrochemical mechanism of epinephrine on glassy carbon electrode

The classic epinephrine's ECE mechanism was revisited. The data obtained suggest that its mechanism is a multi-step irreversible electron transfer with a very fast intramolecular cyclization, an EECEE with a potential inversion, instead of a couple of two-electron processes in a single-step transfer. Moreover, the electrochemical and chemical steps are pH dependent. This conclusion is based on the combination of experimental data with Tafel analysis, digital simulations, and Gibbs energy and Randles-Sevcik predictions. A more detailed electrochemical mechanism was thus proposed to epinephrine's electrooxidation.

Automated summary

The classic epinephrine's ECE mechanism is revisited and found to be a multi-step irreversible electron transfer with a very fast intramolecular cyclization. It involves an EECEE with a potential inversion, instead of a couple of two-electron processes in a single-step transfer. The electrochemical and chemical steps are found to be pH dependent.