Electrochemical study of carminomycin at solid electrodes.

The electrochemical behaviour of carminomycin at carbon-paste, glassy-carbon and composite carbon-polymer electrodes has been compared. Three electroactive sites on the molecule have been identified. Two sites are involved in the oxidation processes, the first corresponding to the hydroquinone structure in the C-6/C-11 positions, the second attributed to the C-4 phenolic function. Applying a negative-going scan allows reduction of the quinone moiety in the C-5/C-12 positions. Both the quinone and hydroquinone functions exhibit quasi-reversible electrochemical reactions in acidic medium, becoming irreversible in alkaline solution. Adsorption phenomena accompany both the oxidation and reduction processes, primarily in neutral and alkaline media. The adsorption can be decreased by using the composite electrode, which is less sensitive to surface phenomena. This working electrode is proposed as the most suitable for the determination of carminomycin at pH 1. A linear calibration plot can be obtained over the range 1 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4)M, with a limit of detection of 6 x 10(-8)M.