Electrocatalytic Reduction of Artemether by Hemin

Artemether is an important widely used derivative of artemisinin. On a glassy carbon electrode, artemether under‐goes an entirely irreversible reduction at ca. −1.18 V. Hemin can catalyze the reduction of artemether as it catalyzes that of artemisinin. In the presence of concentrations of hemin as low as 8 × 10⁻⁸ M, the reduction happens at −0.54 V, reducing the cathodic overpotential ca. 640 mV. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)‐Fe(III) complex also catalyzes the reduction of artemether while reducing the cathodic overpotential about 680 mV; but a concentration of at least M was required. Experiments suggested artemether might undergo the identical antimalarial mechanism as artemisinin. All these further confirm the important role of hemin in the mechanism of action of artemisinin‐type drugs.