The Effect of Structure and Solvation on the Thermodynamic Parameters for the Formation of Singly and Doubly Charged Ions of Organic Compounds in Solution

One of the most direct ways to determine the free energy change of a reaction in solution is to measure the corresponding reversible electrode potential. This places the study of electrode processes at a high level of importance in the search for understanding of the chemistry of reactive intermediates. Combined with gas phase ionization potential and electron affinity data, electrode potential measurements can provide information about fundamental processes such as solvation as well as bonded and non-bonded interactions between solution species. In this discussion we will focus on the formation of positive and negative radical ions as well as the corresponding doubly charged ions. A complete review of this topic is beyond the intended scope and the coverage reflects the research interests of the authors.