Proton coupled electron transfer of ubiquinone Q2 incorporated in a self-assembled monolayer?

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Pub Date: 2011-06-28 DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02700F

Abstract

We present a complete study of the reduction of ubiquinone Q2 (UQ2) in simpler aqueous medium, over a pH range of 2.5 to 12.5. The short isoprenic chain ubiquinones (UQ2) were incorporated in a self-assembled monolayer. Under these conditions, the global 2e? electrochemical reaction can be described on the basis of a nine-member square scheme. The thermodynamic constants of the system were determined. The global 2e? process is controlled by the uptake of the second electron. The elementary electrochemical rate constants obtained by fitting of the experimental rate constant were ks4 = 1.5 s?1 for QH˙+2 ? QH2, ks5 = 1.5 s?1 for QH˙ ? QH? and ks6 = 1 s?1 for Q˙? ? Q2?. The three electrochemical reactions QH˙+2 ? QH2, QH˙ ? QH? and Q˙? ? Q2? are successively involved when increasing the pH. Protonations can occur or not, before or after the electron uptake and the reaction paths are, from low to high pH: e?, H+e?, e?H+, H+e?H+, H+e? and e?H+.

Graphical abstract: Proton coupled electron transfer of ubiquinone Q2 incorporated in a self-assembled monolayer
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