Electrochemical reactions of cyanocobalamin in acidic media

Electrochemical reactions of cyanocobalamin, CN-Cbl[Co(III)], were studied at glassy carbon electrodes in acidic media by means of cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse polarography. It was found that in pH 0 solution, CN-Cbl[Co(III)] exists mainly in the base-off form, {CN-Cbl[Co(III)]}(base-off). It can undergo a one-electron reduction and a follow-up chemical reaction to form {H2O-Cbl[Co(II)]}(base-off). The rate-constant k of the follow-up decyanation reaction is 0.022 s(-1). {H2O-Cbl[Co(II)]}(base-off) is further reduced to obtain H2O-Cbl[Co(I)]. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.