Charge transfer in the mechanism of drug action involving quinoxaline di-N-oxides.

Cyclic voltammetry data were obtained for various 2,3-disubstituted quinoxaline di-N-oxides: dimethyl, bishydroxymethyl, bisacetoxymethyl, bis-N-anilinomethyl, and dicarboxaldehyde hydrate. The dimethyl derivative exhibited the most negative E1/2 value, and along with the diol, showed reversible reduction for the first wave. Rationalizations of the E1/2 values are provided. Reasonable correlations exist for the electrochemical data and drug activity. The results support the diiminium theory of drug action.