title: Polarographic study of bis(2-pyridyl)disulphide di-N-oxide and bis(2-quinolyl)disulphide di-N-oxide in aqueous ethanol.
abstract: The polarographic reduction of bis(2-pyridyl)- and of bis(2-quinolyl)disulphide di-N-oxide in aqueous alcohol yields aryl mercaptans. The electrode reaction is kinetically controlled by an initial one-electron transfer step, and values for the transfer coefficients and the specific heterogeneous rate constants for the forward reactions are presented. The polar N-oxide function in the alpha-position withdraws electrons from the disulphide bond, making the half-wave potential less negative than that of the diphenyl disulphide. The pk(a) values of the mercapto compounds formed have been evaluated and the low values obtained for the heterocyclic N-oxides are further evidence for tautomerism in these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Chelsea College of Science and Technology, University of London, London S.W.3 UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El-Khiami
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Johnson