Electrogeneration of Hg(+) in the presence of tryptophan.

In the presence of l-tryptophan, a one-electron oxidation of mercury takes place at the dropping mercury electrode at 0.265 V vs. SCE in 0.1M potassium nitrate. The electrogeneration of the monomeric Hg(+) ion has been established by a.c. polarography, cyclic voltammetry and ultraviolet spectroscopy. A paramagnetic Hg-trp compound has been electrochemically synthesized and characterized.