The electrochemical properties of two N-hydroxy imides, N-hydroxymaleimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide, at a glassy carbon electrode in acetonitrile were examined by cyclic voltammetry. N-hydroxysuccinimide, which contains no olefinic linkage, indicated a chemically reversible redox response, and its ability as a mediator for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol was confirmed by rotating disk electrode voltammetry. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.