UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry of o-vanillin: Study of the antioxidant properties

UV/Vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry is a very useful technique to study complex electrochemical mechanisms. In this work, we have studied the electrochemistry of o-vanillin in presence and absence of oxygen. This compound exhibits good antioxidant properties. The products of the reaction of o-vanillin with the superoxide anion, electrogenerated when oxygen is reduced in an aprotic medium, have been detected using UV/Vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry. This technique allows us to shed more light on the antioxidant properties of o-vanillin, providing valuable information not only on the antioxidant properties of this compound but also about other compounds that follow a similar mechanism. In this work we have deconvolved the electrochemical signal in the different components that are related to the processes taking place at the electrode and in the solution adjacent to it. •The products generated when o-vanillin acts as antioxidant has been detected.•Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) helps to deconvolve the electrochemical signal.•SEC is a powerful technique to study the antioxidant properties of molecules.