Investigation of Voltametric Behavior and Antioxidant Activity of Vanillin-based Chalcone Compound

Background: Chalcone-type molecules are significant compounds due to their biocompatible properties. This study aimed to examine the electrochemical properties of vanillin chalcone monomer (VC) and its polymer (PANI-VC), as well as to investigate the antioxidant properties of the vanillin chalcone monomer. Methods: VC and PANI-VC were synthesized and characterized using FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of both compounds were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The antioxidant activity of the monomer was assessed using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Results: Two oxidation peaks and one reduction peak were observed for both the monomer and polymer at pH 3 using cyclic voltammetry in Britton-Robinson buffer solution. The electrochemical oxidation mechanisms of the monomer and polymer were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the effects of pH and scan rate were also studied. The electrochemical oxidation mechanism was further evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) computations, revealing that the electrochemical process is adsorption-controlled. The antioxidant activity of VC was assessed using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. Conclusion: Chalcone-type compounds are known for their potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, the electrochemical properties of the synthesized vanillin chalcone monomer and its polymer were examined, and their electrochemical mechanisms were evaluated through DFT calculations. The antioxidant properties of the monomer were compared to those of ascorbic acid using the DPPH method, revealing that the vanillin chalcone monomer possesses significant antioxidant activity.