THE ELECTRO-REDUCTION OF THE ANESTHETIC GAS ISOFLURANE

The popular anaesthetic gas isoflurane is shown to be electrochemically inert over a wide range of electrode materials in both aqueous and non-aqueous solution. However it is shown that the reduction may be brought about by the use of the radical anion of fluroanthene as a mediator. The mechanism of this process is deduced by means of rotating disc voltammetry and by in situ electrochemical ESR and a rate constant for the reaction is evaluated. The synthesis of the novel polymer poly-(vinylfluoranthene) is described and it is demonstrated that modified electrodes based on this material are effective in the reduction of isoflurane but have only limited lifetimes. The possibility of amperometric electrochemical sensors for isoflurane based on the chemistry described is discussed. © 1988