The anthraquinone mediated one-electron reduction of oxygen in acetonitrile

We report the use of a boron-doped diamond electrode and the selection of an optimal anthraquinone derivative, to unambiguously investigate the one-electron mediated oxygen reduction mechanism, in an anhydrous acetonitrile solution. Cyclic voltammetric results were simulated and the rate of the electron transfer between the semi-quinone and oxygen species was found to be 7(±3) × 106 M−1 s−1.