Triarylpyridinium salts: Synthesis and electrochemical properties

The electrochemical properties of the triarylpyridinium salts were studied. The effect of functional substituents on redox properties has been investigated in detail. Electrochemical reduction of salts to the anion in acetonitrile is the result of two one‐electron‐transfer steps through the stage of the radical formation and its subsequent reduction (EE electrochemical mechanism). A correlation between the reduction potentials and the structure of the salts was established. The two‐electron triarylpyridinium reduction product can be considered as very high‐energy species, which becomes obvious when the anti‐aromatic (8n) character of such anion is recognized