Voltammetric reduction and re-oxidation of solid coordination polymers of dihydroxybenzoquinone

Crystalline (PMePh3)(2)[Cd-2(dhbq)(3)], (dhbq(2-) = deprotonated 2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone, H(2)dhbq), attached to electrode surfaces, survives repeated cycles of reduction followed by re-oxidation when placed in contact with aqueous electrolyte media. The results afford encouragement that a range of coordination networks containing redox active connecting ligands and/or redox active metal centres may be reducible or oxidisable in the solid state.