Indirect electrochemical reduction of nicotinamide coenzymes

Nicotinamide coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) were electrochemically reduced to NADH and NADPH, respectively. As direct reduction of nicotinamide coenzymes leads to inactive by-products, an indirect method using (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-2,2′-bipyridine aqua) rhodium (III) as the mediator, was applied. A phosphate buffer solution, pH 8, with 1–10 mM NAD(P)+ and 2.5–200 μM mediator, was pumped through a glassy carbon packed bed cathode. Virtually all the NAD(P)+ was reduced to NAD(P)H in the cell. No sign of mediator loss due to side-reactions was detected though the mediator molecules shuttled hundreds of times between the oxidised and the reduced form. Adsorption of mediator molecules on the surface of the carbon cathode was found to be important for the reduction process. Due to strong adsorption, only minute amounts of mediator were consumed.