Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and UV-vis absorption techniques were used to monitor the faradaic reduction of 2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (PATS2) at a silver electrode in methanol solution. Using these spectroscopic techniques coupled with cyclic voltammetry it was possible to identify the reduction products of PATS2 as thiourea and 2-picolylamine. giving support for one of the proposed mechanisms presented in the literature. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.