Partition coefficients cyclic voltammetry

In this chapter, the voltammetric study of local anesthetics (procaine and related compounds) [14—16], antihistamines (doxylamine and related compounds) [17,22], and uncouplers (2,4-dinitrophenol and related compounds) [18] at nitrobenzene (NB]Uwater (W) and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)-water (W) interfaces is discussed. Potential step voltammetry (chronoamperometry) or normal pulse voltammetry (NPV) and potential sweep voltammetry or cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been employed. Theoretical equations of the half-wave potential vs. pH diagram are derived and applied to interpret the midpoint potential or half-wave potential vs. pH plots to evaluate physicochemical properties, including the partition coefficients and dissociation constants of the drugs. Voltammetric study of the kinetics of protonation of base (procaine) in aqueous solution is also discussed. Finally, application to structure-activity relationship and mode of action study will be discussed briefly. 

Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) has been used to characterize the partitioning behavior of hydrophilic molecules, where log D values as low as —3 can be obtained [371,377-379]. It is not as popular a method as it used to be, apparently due to instrumental challenges. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) has become the new method used to get access to very low log D values, with partition coefficients reported as low as —9.8 [261,269,362]. 

Mandal, A. B. Nair, B. C. U. Ramaswamy, D. Determination of the CMC of Various Surfactants and Partition Coefficient of an Electrochemical Probe Using Cyclic Voltammetry. Langmuir, 1988,4,736-740. 

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