Petr Zuman – författare

During the forty years which have passed since Masuzo Shikata published his paper on the reduction of nitrobenzene at a dropping mercury electrode, the number of polarographic studies of organic compounds in the literature has risen to several thousands. The ever­ increasing amount of experimental data was in need of some unified method of classification which would yield unambiguous and possibly complete information on the polarographic behavior of organic substances. Dr. Zuman''s book presents an original attempt to meet this need by providing a system based on correlations between the polaro­ graphic half-wave potentials of organic depolarizers and their Hammett constants. I consider this a very happy conception, for, more than any other book yet written, it brings polarography nearer to the organic chemist; and it will undoubtedly convince him that, in its application to his subject, the method is more than a mere analytical tool. The author hardly needs any introduction. During many years of research in the field of organic polarography, he has published numerous papers on a variety of problems; his latest interest is the application of the Hammett-Taft equation to polarographic measure­ ments, in which he has done pioneering work. It remains for me to hope that this book, which opens up new prospects for the fruitful application of polarography, may inspire vii viii Foreword some reader with useful ideas in his search for new paths in his research problems.

During the forty years which have passed since Masuzo Shikata published his paper on the reduction of nitrobenzene at a dropping mercury electrode, the number of polarographic studies of organic compounds in the literature has risen to several thousands. The ever­ increasing amount of experimental data was in need of some unified method of classification which would yield unambiguous and possibly complete information on the polarographic behavior of organic substances. Dr. Zuman's book presents an original attempt to meet this need by providing a system based on correlations between the polaro­ graphic half-wave potentials of organic depolarizers and their Hammett constants. I consider this a very happy conception, for, more than any other book yet written, it brings polarography nearer to the organic chemist; and it will undoubtedly convince him that, in its application to his subject, the method is more than a mere analytical tool. The author hardly needs any introduction. During many years of research in the field of organic polarography, he has published numerous papers on a variety of problems; his latest interest is the application of the Hammett-Taft equation to polarographic measure­ ments, in which he has done pioneering work. It remains for me to hope that this book, which opens up new prospects for the fruitful application of polarography, may inspire vii viii Foreword some reader with useful ideas in his search for new paths in his research problems.

Organic Polarographic Analysis deals with the applications of polarography in the analysis of organic compounds. The principles, techniques, and apparatus of organic polarography are discussed, and some selected examples of the applications of organic polarography in various fields of applied chemistry are presented. The direct methods in which the sample is simply dissolved in a suitable supporting electrolyte are also considered. This book consists of 11 chapters and opens with an overview of the basic principles of the polarographic method of analysis, as well as the different types of polarographic limiting currents and of electrode processes. The reader is then introduced to the instruments used in polarography, including the polarograph, dropping and reference electrodes, and electrolysis vessels. Experimental techniques in organic polarography are also described, along with some of its practical applications in fields such as pharmacy, medicine, and biochemistry. Subsequent chapters explore polarographic methods used in the analysis of organic substances, including direct and indirect methods of analysis; separation techniques; and the use of polarography in organic synthesis and isolation of natural products. This monograph is written primarily for organic and analytical chemists.

Through this monograph, the pharmaceutical chemist gets familiar with the possibilities electroanalytical methods offer for validated analyses of drug compounds and pharmaceuticals. The presentation focuses on the techniques most frequently used in practical applications, particularly voltammetry and polarography. The authors present the information in such a way that the reader can judge whether the application of such techniques offers advantages for solving a particular analytical problem. Basics of individual electroanalytical techniques are outlined using as simple language as possible, with a minimum of mathematical apparatus. For each electroanalytical technique, the physical and chemical processes as well as the instrumentation are described. The authors also cover procedures for the identification of electroactive groups and the chemical and electrochemical processes involved.Understanding the principles of such processes is essential for finding optimum analytical conditions in the most reliable way. Added to this is the validation of such analytical procedures. A particularly valuable feature of this book are extensive tables listing numerous validated examples of practical applications. Various Indices according to the drug type, the electroactive group and the type of method as well as a subject and author index are also provided for easy reference.