Ion-selective Electrodes in Organic Analysis-Determination of Alcohols via in Situ Generation of Xanthates under Phase-transfer Catalysis

Low relative molecular mass alcohols, after in situ derivatisation to the corresponding xanthates (dithiocarbonates) under phase-transfer catalysis, have been determined by a PVC membrane xanthate-selective zlectrode based on tetraheptylammonium O-ethyl xanthate. The xanthate-selective electrode exhibited a Nernstian response down to 1 × 10-4 M alcohol with an average slope of 57 mV per concentration decade at 25 °C. The response time was less than 30 s. The electrode worked satisfactorily for the determination of primary as well as secondary alcohols.