Significant changes in pKa between bulk aqueous solution and surface immobilized species: ortho-hydroquinones

Abstract

The pK_a values of two ortho-hydroquinone H₂Q, systems immobilized at a carbon electrode are investigated using voltammetric methods and compared with those of the corresponding molecules in bulk aqueous solution. A large and significant increase of both pK_a values for the successive equilibria H₂Q ⇆ HQ⁻ + H⁺ ⇆ Q²⁻ + 2H⁺ are observed, which highlight the fact that very significant differences of thermodynamic and chemical behaviour exist between molecules in bulk solution and immobilized at interfaces, both in general and in the case of quinones which are regularly used as electron transfer mediators in electroanalysis and electrocatalysis.