The electrochemical oxidation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) has been studied in phosphate buffers in the pH range 1.4-9.8 at a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Oxidation has been found to proceed in a single well-defined peak. The kinetic studies of the UV-absorbing intermediate generated during electrooxidation were followed spectrophotometrically and the decay occurred in a pseudo-first-order reaction. On the basis of electrochemical, spectrochemical and product analysis, a detailed redox mechanism for the formation of the oxidation products in neutral and alkaline medium have been proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.