Thiol oxidation at 2-mercaptopyrimidine-appended cobalt phthalocyanine modified glassy carbon electrodes

The electrocatalytic activity of cobalt tetra-2-mercaptopyrimidylphthalocyanine-modified glassy carbon electrode (CoTMPyrPc-GCE) toward gluthathione, l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol has been investigated. CoTMPyrPc-GCE provides a significant improvement on the reported oxidation potential of l-cysteine in pH 4.0 phosphate buffered solution. The oxidation peak potential (Ep), for l-cysteine, was 0.15 V – a relatively lowered oxidation potential compared to reported phthalocyanine complexes. The electrode prepared by drop-dry/thermal annealing method was very stable and sensitive over a long period of time. The stability has been attributed to the thermal annealing and the structure of the mercaptopyrimidine on the periphery of the CoPc.