Cyclic Voltammetric Studies of Benzilic Acids and their Derivatives

This study is used to predict about the oxidation and reduction behaviour taking place in benzilic acids and their
derivatives.The electrochemical reduction of different substituted benzilic acids were synthesized and studied in
acidic medium by cyclic voltammetry. Platinum electrode served as the counter electrode. Ag/Ag+ non-aqueous
electrode as the reference electrode and glass carbon electrode is used as the working electrode. In acidic
solution with different concentration, shows that oxidation and reduction takes place depend on the substitution
present in the synthesied compound and hydrochloric acid concentration. The reduction occurs in two reversible
one-electron steps producing the anion radical. In the presence of acid, the first reduction is unaffected and the
second reduction wave becomes irreversible and is shifted toward positive potentials. The compound exhibits
oxidation and reduction potential in acidic medium with two different concentrations with the reversibility of the
reaction.