Date of Award

Summer 1982

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Ryan, Michael D.

Second Advisor

Cremer, Sheldon E.

Third Advisor

Pollard, Bruce D.

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of several organoselenium compounds ( diphenyl selenide, diphenyl selenoxide, dip- tolyl selenide, di-p-tolyl selenoxide, diethyl selenide, selenane, 1,4-diselenane) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. None of the reactions were reversible. The diphenyl and di-p-tolyl selenides were extensively studied. An overall two-electron oxidation was observed with the isolated product in both cases being the selenoxide. The effect of proton was investigated by adding perchloric acid to the selenoxide solution. The protonated selenoxide gave no further oxidation. After a base, 2,6-di-tertbutyl pyridine, was added to the acidic solution, the selenoxide peak was reformed. No oxidation peak has been found in the cyclic voltammogram for diphenyl selenide at diphenyl selenoxide's position even when twice the equivalent amount of base was added to t he diphenyl selenide solution. When more than one equivalent amount of base was added to the di-p-tolyl selenide solution, the di-p-tolyl selenoxide peak began to appear.

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