Anodic voltammetry of colchicine

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory alkaloid has been examined by anodic rotating disc voltammetry at platinum and gold electrodes. It is oxidised by two two-electron steps and, while the adherence to the Levich square-root-of-frequency relation is approximate, the limiting current is linearly proportional to concentration with zero intercepts, affording excellent rapid voltammetric determination in 0.1 mol l^–1 sulphuric acid. Cyclic voltammetry gives no additional information. Mass-and charge-transfer parameters have been determined. Aqueous acidic solutions in the absence of oxygen are unstable, and slowly decompose, probably by hydrolysis of the acetamido group, generating a new anodic wave.