In acidic media, at pH < 7, the nitro group, in ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde (I) is reduced in a fourelectron step to ortho-formylphenylhydroxylamine (11). The protonated form of I1 is reduced by two electrons to ortho-aminobenzaldehyde (IV), which is further reduced in a two-electron process to ortho-aminobenzylalcohol. At pH > 7, the arylhydroxylamine (11) condenses to form a nitrone, which is further reduced in two two-electron waves, corresponding to the cleavage of the N -0 bond and reduction of the azomethine bond. At pH 7, formation of anthranil (111) from I1 is a relatively slow process: in cyclic voltammetry (CV) and d.c. polarography, I1 is further reduced to IV; in controlled potential electrolysis at a mercury pool electrode, the same products are obtained at 0" C, but at 25" C, III is the predominant product.