Electrochemical oxidation by square-wave potential pulses in the imitation of phenacetin to acetaminophen biotransformation.

Electrochemistry in combination with mass spectrometry is emerging as a versatile analytical technique in the imitation of oxidative drug metabolism during the early stages of drug discovery and development. Here, we present electrochemical O-dealkylation of phenacetin to acetaminophen by square-wave potential pulses consisting of consecutive sub-second oxidation and reduction steps. This O-dealkylation could not be achieved by oxidation at constant potential or longer potential pulses because of the fast hydrolysis of the reactive intermediates. Electrochemical conversion by square-wave potential pulses can thus widen the scope of electrochemical synthesis of metabolites and imitation of in vivo drug metabolism.