A Spectroelectrochemical Investigation Oxidation of the Bilirubin IX-Alpa in Dimethylformamide.

Abstract : This electrochemistry of bilirubin IX-alpha in N,N-dimethylformamide has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, ac voltammetry, modulated specular reflectance spectroscopy, small amplitude ac reflectance spectroscopy, OTTLE cell spectroelectrochemistry, and conventional spectroscopy. The data suggest a CECEC mechanism for oxidation of bilirubin to biliverdin. The oxidation potential for the mono-deprotonated bilirubin to its cation radical is +0.10 V, and for the carbonium ion/free radical couple, -0.86 V vs Ag/Ag+ (0.10 M).