1,2,4- and 1,2,5-oxadiazoles: 1. Polarographic reduction of methyl- and phenyloxadiazoles in anhydrous dimethylformamide

It is shown that the first step in the reduction of the investigated oxadiazoles on a dropping mercury cathode in dimethylformamide corresponds to two-electron cleavage of the N-O bond. The degree of reduction is determined by the nature and position of the substituents in the oxadiazole ring and by the rate of protonation of the intermediately formed particles.