Reactions of lithium phenylacetylenide and lithium 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ynide with 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone. Molecular structure of 2,5-di-tert-butyl-8-(3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinon-4-yl)-8-phenylocta-2,4,6,7-tetraen-1,6-olide

Reactions of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone with PhC≡CLi and Bu^tC≡CLi are multistage processes. In the first stage, nucleophilic 1,2-addition of the organometallic compound too-benzoquinone occurs to form the corresponding hydroxycyclohexadienone derivative. In polar solvents, the latter undergoes rearrangement through insertion of the oxygen atom into the ring to form a new allenic organolithium compound. The reaction of the newly formed organometallic compound with the initialo-quinone occurs either as a one-electron transfer to yield lithium semiquinolate and a dimerization product,viz., 4,4′-bi(2,5-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyldeca-2,5-dien-7-yn-1,6-olide), or as the 1,4-addition to yield 2,5-di-tert-butyl-8-(3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinon-4-yl)-8-phenylocta-2,4,6,7-tetraen-1,6-olide. The structure of the latter compound was established by X-ray diffraction analysis and by NMR and IR spectroscopy. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 351–356, February, 1999.     

Functionalized derivatives of sterically hinderedo-quinones and pyrocatechols. 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-dicyanometyl-1,2-benzoquinone and its isomers

Base-catalyzed interaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone with malononitrile mainly occurs as 1,4-addition to give 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-dicyanomethylpyrocatechol. Its oxidation leads to 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-dicyanomethyl-1,2-benzoquinone, which converts into 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-α,α-dicyano-1,4-quinomethane in solution and in the solid state. The latter rearranges into isomeric 3,6-di-tert-butyl-5-dicyanomethylenecyclohex-3-ene-1,2-dione. Reverse conversion occurs under the action of amines. Semiquinone complexes of dicyanomethylquinone were studied in solutions by ESR.     

Alkoxylation of 3,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone. New bis-1,2-benzoquinones

Alkoxylation of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone with a number of diols, including propane-1,3-diol, butane-1,4-diol, di-, and triethylene glycols, and cyclohexane-1,4-diyldimethanol, was studied. Nine new 4-alkoxy-3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinones were synthesized, four of which were bis-1,2-benzoquinones with different tethers (6–13 atoms) between the quinone fragments. Depending on the length of the chain between the hydroxy groups in glycols, bicyclic 4,5-disubstituted 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinones were formed or their stepwise alkoxylation occurred. The newly synthesized o-benzoquinone derivatives can be reduced with alkali metals to give radical anions and converted into semiquinone chelates with manganese carbonyl.     

Investigation of radical pairs produced upon pulse action of elastic waves on the 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol-3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone-sulfur system

The pulse action of elastic waves on polycrystalline mixtures of 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone produces radical pairs stable at room temperature, and the addition of polycrystalline sulfur considerably increases their yield. The dependences of formation and decay rates of paramagnetic centers on the composition of the mixture were studied. The threshold character of formation of paramagnetic centers at various powers of elastic wave pulse was established.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriva Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 864–868, April, 1996.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of ozone with 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol

The reaction of ozone with 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol at 20°C was investigated, and it was found that the main reaction product was 3,6-di-tert-butylquinone, while the reaction rate was proportional to the concentrations of the reagents. A reaction scheme explaining the mechanism of formation of the main and side products is proposed.N. N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117977 Moscow. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1443–1447, June, 1992.     

Structures of oxidation products of 4,6-di-tert-butylpyrogallol

Oxidation of 4,6-di-tert-butylpyrogallol gave two dimeric products instead of the expected 4,6-di-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-1,2-benzoquinone (2). It was established by X-ray diffraction analysis that the first product has the structure of tetra-tert-butyl-6, 10a-dihydroxy-1,2-dioxo-3,4a,7,9-1,2,4a, 10a-tetrahydrodibenzo-1,4-dioxine. From this it follows that compound 2 undergoes regio- and stereospecific dimerization according to the [2π+4π]-cycloaddition mechanism,viz, the hetero Diels—Alder reaction. The double intensities of the signals in the¹H NMR spectrum are indicative of a symmetrical structure of the second product, 2,6,4′, 6′-tetra-tert-butyl-4,4′-dihyroxy-3,5,3′,5′-tetraoxo-4,4′-bi(cyclohexene), which is a racemate of enantiomers formed upon recombination (r+r orl+l) of the intermediate of oxidation of pyrogallol, namely, of ther,l-stereogenic 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1-hydroxy-2,6-dioxocyclohex-3-enyl radical. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 139–146, January, 1999.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of 2-(triphenylstannyloxy)-3,6-di-tert butyl-1,4-benzoquinone

2-(Triphenylstannyloxy)-3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1) was obtained from the potassium salt of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone and triphenyltin bromide in methanol and characterized by x-ray diffraction analysis, electronic, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. According to x-ray diffraction data, the single crystal of1 has the structure of a chain metal polymer with bridging hydroxy-para-quinone ligands; the coordination number of tin is six. Complex1 is reduced by cobaltocene to the corresponding radical anion. In solutions,1 reacts with metal-centered radicals , and with formation of paramagnetic binuclearortho-semiquinone complexes.Institute of Organometallic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 603600 Nizhnii Novgorod. A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Heteroorganic Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2798–2804, December, 1992.     

ESR study of the effect of water on the kinetics of proton transfer and exchange in solutions of semiquinone radicals

The interaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenoxyl with triethylamine in the reaction of proton transfer is catalyzed by water. However, the rate of proton exchange with diethylamine is independent of water admixtures in the reaction medium. ESR showed that the complexing of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenoxyl with water leads to redistribution of the spin density.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1018–1021, June, 1994.     

Chlorination of 3,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone in two-phase catalytic system

Chlorination of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone in a two-phase catalytic system (CH₂Cl₂, HCl- H₂O, H₂O₂, Bu₄NCl) led to halogen addition at the C=C bond, and subsequent dehydrochlorination of the adduct gave 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-chloro-1,2-benzoquinone. Chlorination of the latter afforded 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-dichloro-1,2-benzoquinone.     

Reactions of isomeric 3,6- and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzoquinones with NH3

The interaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzoquinone (1) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzoquinone (2) with NH₃ in water—alcohol medium and with (NH₄)₂CO₃ in a solid phase has been studied. Redox processes with participation of a nucleophile of the medium take place for1, while2 reacts with NH₃ at the carbonyl group with transformation of the quinone imide. The mechanism of redox transformation of1 has been proposed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1789–1793, September, 1995.This work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project No. 94-03-08653).     

Synthesis of magnesium catecholate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-semiquinone complexes by oxidation of the metal with 3,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

Oxidation of amalgamated magnesium metal with 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (1) in different aprotic organic solvents afforded magnesium catecholate and bis-o-semiquinolate complexes. The catecholate derivatives of magnesium CatMgL₂ (Cat is the 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone dianion, L = THF or Py) were synthesized in high yields in pyridine and tetrahydrofuran, respectively. The reactions in diethyl ether or dimethoxyethane produced hexacoordinated metal bis-o-semiquinolates SQ₂MgL_n (SQ is the 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone radical anion, L = Et₂O, n = 2; L = DME, n = 1). The reaction with the use of toluene as the solvent gave a magnesium bis-o-semiquinolate complex containing the coordinated unreduced o-quinone molecule. The molecular structures of the [CatMgPy₂]₂ and SQ₂Mg·DME complexes were established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 92–98, January, 2007.     

Low-temperature oxidation of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone and 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of aluminum, titanium, and zirconium tert-butylates

Systems consisting of metal (Al, Ti, Zr) tert-butylate and tert-butyl hydroperoxide oxidize 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone under mild conditions (room temperature, benzene). With (t-BuO)₃Al and (t-BuO)₄Zr, the major reaction products are 5-hydroxy-3,6-di-tert-butyl-2,3-epoxy-p-benzoquinone, and with (t-BuO)₄Ti, 2-hydroxy-3,6-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone. Under the conditions of this reaction, 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol initially transforms into 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone. The reactions involve metalcontaining peroxides.     

3,6-Di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone complexes of copper(1) with bidentate bis(diphenylphosphine) ligands. Synthesis, structures, and properties

New mononuclear 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone complexes of copper(1) with bis(diphenylphosphine) ligands were synthesized: (DBSQ)Cu(dppe) (1) (DBSQ=3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone and dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), (DBSQ)Cu(dppp) (2) (dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), (DBSQ)Cu(dppn) (3) (dppn=2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl), and (DBSQ)Cu(dppfc) (4) (dppfc=1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene). The compositions and structures of complexes1–4 were characterized by elemental analysis and electronic absorption, IR, and ESR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of complexes3 and4 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reactions of elimination and replacement of neutral ligands in the coordination sphere of the complexes were studied by ESR spectroscopy. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2333–2340, November, 1998.     

Thermal decomposition of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-dimethylaminomethylphenol

Products of thermolysis of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-dimethylaminomethylphenol were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by GLC, UV, and¹H NMR methods. The kinetics of the reaction was studied. The thermolysis products were studied as the inhibitors in thermopolymerization of monomers. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1881–1883, October, 1997.     

Bis(1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diazabutadiene)copper(i) [(3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinono)(3,6-di-tert-butyl-catecholato)cuprate(ii)]. The molecular structure and intramolecular electron transfer

Bis(1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diazabutadiene)copper(i) [(3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinono)(3,6-di-tert-butylcatecholato)cuprate(ii)] (1) was synthesized. Complex 1 contains the 1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diazabutadiene and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone ligands in the reduced form. The structure of 1 was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ESR spectra indicate that dissolution of complex 1 in organic solvents (toluene, THF, CH₂Cl₂, etc.) leads to its symmetrization to give neutral complex 2, which occurs in solutions as an equilibrium mixture of two redox isomers, viz., catecholate (Cat) complex 2c and semiquinone (SQ) complex 2s. In the coordination sphere of the copper atom, the reversible intramolecular metal—ligand electron transfer can proceed as successive steps as exemplified by the reactions of 2 with CO and 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile. Copper(i) o-semiquinone complex 2s can be reversibly transformed into copper(ii) catecholate complex 2c through electron transfer from the copper(i) atom to the SQ ligand. The subsequent addition of the neutral ligand (CO or CNAr) to 2c induces, in turn, electron transfer from the Cat ligand to the copper(ii) atom accompanied by the transformation of the catecholate complex into the o-semiquinone complex. In the case of CO, this transformation is also reversible and is efficiently controlled by the temperature.     

Reaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone with dimedone. Functionalized derivatives of hinderedo-quinones and catechols

The reaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone with dimedone in the presence of a catalytic amount of Et₃N occurs as repeated 1,4-nucleophilic addition-oxidation and isomerization of a tricyclic quinone into quinomethane. The intermediate products were isolated and characterized. Semiquinone complexes of quinones were studied by ESR in solution. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2206–2209, December, 1997.     

Kinetics of proton exchange between semiquinone radicals and hydrochloric acid

The mechanism of proton exchange between semiquinone neutral radicals 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenoxyl (1), 6-tert-butyl-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-4-triphenylmethylphenoxyl, and hydrochloric acid in toluene solutions has been studied. The rate of proton exchange with hydrochloric acid is less than that with acetic acid owing to the higher thermodynamic stability of the radical cation formed upon semiquinone radical protonation by hydrochloric acid. The formation of radical cations and their dimers has been proven by spectroscopy.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No 1, pp. 84–87, January, 1993.     

Kinetics of proton exchange between semiquinone radicals and NH-acids

Using EPR the proton exchange between 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-oxyphenoxyl, 4-triphenylmethyl-6-tert-butyl-3-chloro-2-hydroxyphenoxyl, and secondary amines was studied. The nature of the solvent had no effect on the kinetic parameters of the process which was attributed to the formation of strong complexes owing to ring type hydrogen bonds. The effect of prototropy on the mechanism of proton exchange was examined.A. I. Nesmeyanov Institute of Heteroorganic Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2505–2511, November, 1992.     

Anomalous behavior in the two-step reduction of quinones in acetonitrile

The electrochemical reduction of eight quinones, 9,10-anthraquinone (1), duroquinone (2), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (3), 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (4), 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (5), tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone (6), tetrabromo-1,2-benzoquinone (7) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (8), have been studied in acetonitrile. In every case it was found that cyclic voltammograms differed in significant ways from those expected for simple stepwise reduction of the quinone to its radical anion and dianion. The various types of deviations for the eight quinones have been cataloged and some speculation is offered concerning their origins.     

Reactions of poly(methyl methacrylate) radicals with some <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinones in the presence of tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butylboron in methyl methacrylate polymerization

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate at 30 °C was studied in the presence of tri-n-butylboron and a series of quinones, namely, p-benzoquinone, chloranil, and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone, whose concentration changed from 0.25 to 2.00 mol.%. The initial polymerization rate and molecular weight of poly(methyl methacrylate) depend on the structure and concentration of quinone. The growth radicals react with p-benzoquinone and chloranil predominantly at the C=C bond, while they react at the C=O bond of 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone. The terminal stable oxygen-centered radicals that formed react with alkylborane, terminating reaction chains and generating alkyl radicals into the bulk. The latter are involved in chain initiation.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2114–2119, October, 2004.