Photoreduction of p-benzoquinones: effects of alcohols and amines on the intermediates and reactivities in solutions

The photochemistry of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and alkyl-, Cl- and related derivatives, e.g. methyl-, 2,6-dimethyl-, chloro-, 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, duroquinone and chloranil, was studied in nonaqueous solvents by UV-vis spectroscopy using nanosecond laser pulses at 308 nm. The reactivity of the triplet state (3Q*) of the quinones with 2-propanol in the absence of water is largest for BQ and depends mainly on the quinone structure, whereas the rate constant of electron transfer from amines, such as triethylamine (TEA) or 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, is close to the diffusion-controlled limit for BQ and most derivatives. Photoinduced charge separation after electron transfer from amines to 3Q* and the subsequent charge recombination or neutralization are supported by time-resolved conductivity measurements. The half-life of the decay kinetics of the semiquinone radical (*QH/Q*-) depends significantly on the donor and the medium. The photoconversion into the hydroquinones was measured under various conditions, the quantum yield, lambda(irr) = 254 nm, increases with increasing 2-propanol and TEA concentrations. The effects of quenching of 3Q*, the *QH/Q*- radicals and the photoconversion are outlined. The mechanisms of photoreduction of quinones in acetonitrile by 2-propanol are compared with those by TEA in benzene and acetonitrile, and the specific properties of substitution are discussed.     

Electron transfer from aromatic amino acids to triplet quinones

The photoreduction of 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) and several methylated or halogenated derivatives in argon-saturated acetonitrile-water mixtures by indole, N-acetyltryptophan and N-acetyltyrosine was studied by time-resolved UV-vis spectroscopy using 20 ns UV laser pulses. The quinone triplet state is quenched by the aromatic amino acids and the rate constants are (1-5)x10(9)M(-1)s(-1). The semiquinone radical anion Q.(-) is the major observable transient after electron transfer from amino acids to the quinone triplet state. Termination of Q.(-) and amino acid derived radicals takes place in the mus-ms range. The effects of structure and other specific properties of quinones and amino acids are discussed. The radicals are subjects of intercept with oxygen, whereby hydrogen peroxide is eventually formed. The quantum yield of oxygen uptake Phi(-O2) as a measure of formation of hydrogen peroxide increases with increasing amino acid concentration, approaching Phi(-O2) for AQ in air-saturated solution.     

Oxygen uptake upon photolysis of 1,4-benzoquinones and 1,4-naphthoquinones in air-saturated aqueous solution in the presence of formate, amines, ascorbic acid, and alcohols

The effects of oxygen in the photoreduction of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), and a series of derivatives were studied in aqueous solution in the presence of acetonitrile and formate, aliphatic amines, e.g., EDTA or triethylamine, ascorbic acid, and alcohols, e.g., methanol or 2-propanol. The quinone triplet state is quenched, whereby the semiquinone and donor radicals are formed which react subsequently with oxygen. The overall reaction is oxidation of the donors and conversion of oxygen via the hydroperoxyl/superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide. The quantum yield (Phi-O2) of this oxygen uptake changes in 2-propanol-water (1:10) from <0.01 for BQ to Phi-O2 = 0.5-0.8 for NQ. Generally Phi-O2 increases with increasing donor concentration. The specific properties of quinone structure, the radical equilibria and reactivity, and the concentration dependences are discussed.     

Photochemistry of Water-soluble Quinones. Production of a Water-derived Spin Adduct

Abstract— The photolyses of phosphate-buffered (pH 7) air- and nitrogen-saturated solutions containing the water-soluble quinones, 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 2-methyl-l,4-ben-zoquinone (MBQ), sodium 1,4-naphthoquinones-sulfonate (NQ2S), 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S) or 9,10-anthraquinone-l,5-disulfonate (AQDS), and the spin trap 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-l-oxide (DMPO) produce a DMPO-OH adduct. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the photolyzed samples in ₁₇0-enriched water demonstrates that this adduct derives almost exclusively from water. With the exception of BQ, quantum yields for the formation of DMPO-OH are larger in air than in nitrogen-saturated samples, thus supporting the idea of the formation of air-oxidized intermediates that enhance the DMPO hydroxylation reaction rate. Evidence has been obtained which suggests that BQ and MBQ, but not AQDS, are able to photoox-idize water, with the consequent production of the free OH radical.     

Competitive decay pathways of the radical ions formed by photoinduced electron transfer between quinones and 4,4'-dimethoxydiphenylmethane in acetonitrile

The reactivity of the cation radical of (4-MeOC6H4)2CH2 photosensitized by 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (Cl2BQ), and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil, CA) was investigated in acetonitrile. The main photoreaction products obtained by steady-state irradiation were identified to be: (4-MeOC6H4)2-CHOC6H4OH, sensitized by BQ; (4-MeOC6H4)2CHCl, sensitized by Cl2BQ; (4-MeOC6H4)2CHOH, sensitized by CA. The mechanism of their formation was investigated by nanosecond laser flash photolysis that allowed transient species (radical ions, neutral radicals, and ions) to be detected and characterized in terms of absorption spectra, formation quantum yields, and decay rate constants. For all systems, the interaction between the triplet quinone (Q) and (4-MeOC6H4)2CH2 produced the corresponding radical ions (quantum yield phi > or = 0.72) which mainly decay by back electron transfer processes. Less efficient reaction routes for the radical ions Q*- and (4-MeOC6H4)2CH2*+ were also: i) the proton-transfer process with the formation of the radical (4-MeOC6H4)2CH* by use of Cl2BQ; ii) the hydrogen-transfer process with the formation of the cation (4-MeOC6H4)2CH+ in the case of CA. Instead. BQ sensitized a much higher yield of BOH* and (4-MeOC6H4)2CH*, mainly by the direct interaction of triplet BQ with (4-MeOC6H4)2CH2. It was also shown that the presence of salts decreases significantly the rate of the back electron transfer process and enhances the quantum yields of formation of the neutral radicals and ions when Cl2BQ and CA are used, respectively. The behavior of BQ*-, Cl2BQ*-, and CA*- appears to be mainly determined by the Mulliken charges on the oxygen atom obtained from quantum mechanical calculations with the model B3LYP/6-311G(d,p). Spin densities seem to be much less important.     

Theoretical prediction of the hydride affinities of various p- and o-quinones in DMSO

The hydride affinities of 80 various p- and o-quinones in DMSO solution were predicted by using B3LYP/6-311++G (2df,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G* and MP2/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-31+G* methods, combined with the PCM cluster continuum model for the first time. The results show that the hydride affinity scale of the 80 quinones in DMSO ranges from -47.4 kcal/mol for 9,10-anthraquinone to -124.5 kcal/mol for 3,4,5,6-tetracyano-1,2-quinone. Such a long scale of the hydride affinities (-47.4 to -124.5 kcal/mol) indicates that the 80 quinones can form a large and useful library of organic oxidants, which can provide various organic hydride acceptors that the hydride affinities are known for chemists to choose in organic syntheses. By examining the effect of substituent on the hydride affinities of quinones, it is found that the hydride affinities of quinones in DMSO are linearly dependent on the sum of the Hammett substituent parameters sigma: DeltaGH-(Q) approximately -16.0Sigmasigmai - 70.5 (kcal/mol) for p-quinones and DeltaGH-(Q) approximately -16.2Sigmasigmai - 81.5 (kcal/mol) for o-quinones only if the substituents have no large electrostatic inductive effect and large ortho-effect. Study of the effect of the aromatic properties of quinone on the hydride affinities showed that the larger the aromatic system of quinone is, the smaller the hydride affinity of the quinone is, and the decrease of the hydride affinities is linearly to take place with the increase of the number of benzene rings in the molecule of quinones, from which the hydride affinities of aromatic quinones with multiple benzene rings can be predicted. By comparing the hydride affinities of p-quinones and the corresponding o-quinones, it is found that the hydride affinities of o-quinones are generally larger than those of the corresponding p-quinones by ca. 11 kcal/mol. Analyzing the effect of solvent on the hydride affinities of quinones showed that the effects of solvent (DMSO) on the hydride affinities of quinones are mainly dependent on the electrostatic interaction of the charged hydroquinone anions (QH-) with solvent (DMSO). All the information disclosed in this work should provide some valuable clues to chemists to choose suitable quinones or hydroquinones as efficient hydride acceptors or donors in organic syntheses and to predict the thermodynamics of hydride exchange between quinones and hydroquinones in DMSO solution.     

Quenching of bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence in chlorosomes from Chloroflexus aurantiacus by exogenous quinones

The quenching of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c fluorescence in chlorosomes isolated from Chloroflexus aurantiacus was examined by the addition of various benzoquinones, naphthoquinones (NQ), and anthraquinones (AQ). Many quinones showed strong quenching in the micromolar or submicromolar range. The number of quinone molecules bound to the chlorosomes was estimated to be as small as one quinone molecule per 50 BChl c molecules. Quinones which exhibit a high quenching effect have sufficient hydrophobicity and one or more hydroxyl groups in the alpha positions of NQ and AQ. Chlorobiumquinone has been suggested to be essential for the endogenous quenching of chlorosome fluorescence in Chlorobium tepidum under oxic conditions. We suggest that the quenching effect of chlorobiumquinone in chlorosomes from Chl. tepidum is related to the 1'-oxo group neighboring the dicarbonyl group.     

Sequential analysis of dimethyl sulfur compounds in seawater

A sequential method for the determination of dimethyl sulfur compounds, including dimethylsulfide （DMS）, dimethylsulfonio- propionate （DMSP） and dimethylsulfoxide （DMSO）, in seawater samples has been developed. Detection limit of 2.5 pmol of DMS in 25 mL sample, corresponding to 0.10 nmol/L, was achieved. Recoveries for dimethyl sulfur compounds were in the range of 68.6- 78.3%. The relative standard deviations （R.S.D.s） for DMS, DMSP and DMSO determination were 3.0, 5.4 and 7.4%, respectively.     

Photoreduction of 9,10-anthraquinone derivatives: transient spectroscopy and effects of alcohols and amines on reactivity in solution

The photoreduction of 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), the 2-methyl, 2-ethyl, 2,3-dimethyl, 1,4-difluoro, 1-chloro and 1,8-dichloro derivatives as well as 1,4,4a,9a-tetrahydroanthraquinone, 1,2-benzanthraquinone and 6,13-pentacenequinone in nonaqueous solution at room temperature was studied by time-resolved UV-visible spectroscopy. Upon 308 nm excitation of AQ the triplet state reacts with alcohols and triethylamine (TEA). The rate constant of triplet quenching by amines is close to the diffusion-controlled limit. The semiquinone radical *QH/ Q*- is the main intermediate, and the half-life of the second-order decay kinetics depends significantly on the donor and the medium. Photoinduced charge separation after electron transfer from amines to the triplet state of AQ in acetonitrile and the subsequent charge recombination or neutralization also were measured by transient conductivity. The maximum quantum yield, lambdairr = 254 nm, of photoconversion into the strongly fluorescing 9,10-dihydroxyanthracenes is close to unity. The fluorescence with maximum at 460-480 nm and a lifetime of 20-30 ns disappears as a result of a complete recovery into AQ, when the dihydroxyanthracenes are exposed to oxygen. The mechanisms of photoreduction of parent AQ in acetonitrile by 2-propanol and in benzene and acetonitrile by TEA are discussed. The effects of AQ follow essentially the same pattern. The various functions of oxygen, e.g. (1) quenching of the triplet state; (2) quenching of the semiquinone radical, thereby forming HO2*/O2*- radicals; and (3) trapping of the dihydroxyanthracenes are outlined.     

Electrochemical properties of palladium(0) complexes coordinated by quinone derivatives

The polagrophic and cyclic voltammetric behavior of quinone derivatives (Q) and their palladium(0) complexes, (Q)₁ or ²Pd(PPh₃)₂, has been studied. All free quinone derivatives except 5,8,9,10-tetrahydro-1,4-naphthoquinone (THNQ) showed two reversible waves, and all palladium(0) complexes showed irreversible waves. The reduction half-wave potentials for free quinone derivatives lie in the following order:7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) ? p-benzoquinone (BQ) ? 5,8-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone (DHNQ) ? 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) ? THNQ. The reduction potentials for quinone derivatives shifted toward the negative or coordination to palladium(0). The extents of the shifts depended on the electron-withdrawing ability of the free quinone derivatives. On the other hand, the oxidation potentials for the central palladium(0) in their complexes showed more positive values in comparison with the potential for Pd(PPh₃)₄. However, the oxidation potentials were almost constant for all complexes of the quinone derivatives. On the basis of these facts, the phenomena of charge transfer in the complexes are discussed.     

Phenol transformation photosensitised by quinoid compounds

The phototransformation of phenol in aqueous solution was studied with different quinoid compounds, which are usually detected on atmospheric particulate matter: 2-ethylanthraquinone (EtAQ), benzanthracene-7,12-dione (BAD), 5,12-naphthacenequinone (NQ), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), and 2,6-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DAQ). All the studied quinones were able to sensitise the phototransformation of phenol. Under blue-light irradiation the approximated, polychromatic quantum yields for phenol photodegradation were in the order AQ > BAD > EtAQ > NQ > DAQ. Quantum mechanical calculations showed that AQ and DAQ have a very different spin distribution in the triplet state (largely located on the carbonyl oxygen and delocalised over the aromatic ring, respectively) that could account for the difference in reactivity. The spin distribution of EtAQ is similar to that of AQ. Under simulated sunlight, EtAQ induced the highest rate of phenol degradation. Radiation-excited EtAQ would oxidise both ground-state EtAQ and phenol; a kinetic model that excludes the ˙OH radical and singlet oxygen as reactive species is supported by the experimental data. Quinones were also able to oxidise nitrite to nitrogen dioxide, thereby inducing phenol nitration. Such a process is a potential source of nitrogen dioxide and nitrophenols in the atmospheric aerosols.     

Effects of noncovalently bound quinones on the ground and triplet states of zinc chlorins in solution and bound to de novo synthesized peptides

The Qy absorption band of two chlorophyll derivatives, zinc chlorin e6 (ZnCe6) and zinc pheophorbide a (ZnPheida), in aqueous solution is bathochromically shifted on addition of quinones, e.g., 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), with a corresponding shift of the fluorescence band. This is due to a complex formation of zinc chlorins induced by BQs and subsequent rearrangement. The time-resolved absorption spectra after laser pulse excitation show triplet quenching of the pigments by BQ and other quinones via electron transfer. The effects of electron transfer to noncovalently bound BQs were also studied with de novo synthesized peptides, into which ZnCe6 and ZnPheida were incorporated as model systems for the primary steps of photosynthetic reaction centers. Whereas the photophysical properties are similar to those of the unbound zinc chlorins, no BQ-mediated complex formation was observed.     

An improved method for the analysis of dimethyl sulfoxide in water samples.

An analytical method for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in aqueous samples at nanomolar levels has been improved. DMSO was reduced to dimethyl sulfide (DMS), concentrated on an adsorbent, and measured by gas chromatography. In the presence of iron chloride, the sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reduction of DMSO proceeded smoothly and efficiently, and the repeatability of this reaction was significantly improved. The detection limit was 0.27 nM for DMSO, and its repeatability of the peak-area measurement was 4.1% as RSD (n = 5).     

Photoprocesses of chloro-substituted p-benzoquinones

The photochemistry of chloro-(ClBQ), dichloro-(2,5- and 2,6-Cl 2BQ), and trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (Cl 3BQ) was studied in aqueous solution and/or in mixtures with acetonitrile. Final products are the corresponding hydroquinones (QH 2s) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinones (QOHs). Three transients were detected by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The triplet state appears within the 20 ns 248 nm pulse and is converted within 0.1-1 micros into a photohydrate (HI aq). HI aq which is spectroscopically and kinetically separated from the triplet state decays within 5 ms, whereas the anion of the hydroxyquinone (QO (-)) grows in at ca. 500 nm in the 0.1-1 s time range. The proton formation and decay kinetics within 0.1-10 micros were observed by transient conductivity in the course of the reaction of the triplet state with water en route to HI aq at pH 4-9. Formation of QO (-) results in a permanent conductance. The efficient photoconversion of Cl n BQs at low concentrations (<0.2 mM) into QH 2s and HOQs is due to a redox reaction of Q with rearranged HI aq. The quantum yield of photoconversion at lambda irr = 254 nm is 0.8-1.2 for ClBQ or Cl 2BQs in aqueous acetonitrile and smaller (0.4) for Cl 3BQ. The yield of semiquinone radical ( (*)QH/Q (*-)) of Cl n BQs ( n = 1-4) in acetonitrile-water (1:1) is low (<20%) at low substrate concentration but is significantly increased upon addition of an H-atom donor, for example, 2-propanol. Other mechanisms involving (*)QH/Q (*-) radicals, such as quenching of the triplet state at enhanced Cl n BQ concentrations and H-atom abstraction from an organic solvent in mixtures with water, have also to be considered.     

Electron transfer of quinone self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode

Dialkyl disulfide-linked naphthoquinone, (NQ-C_n-S)₂, and anthraquinone, (AQ-C_n-S)₂, derivatives with different spacer alkyl chains (C_n: n = 2, 6, 12) were synthesized and these quinone derivatives were self-assembled on a gold electrode. The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these derivatives on a gold electrode was confirmed by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS). Electron transfer between the derivatives and the gold electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. On the cyclic voltammogram a reversible redox reaction between quinone (Q) and hydroquinone (QH₂) was clearly observed under an aqueous condition. The formal potentials for NQ and AQ derivatives were −0.48 and −0.58 V, respectively, that did not depend on the spacer length. The oxidation and reduction peak currents were strongly dependent on the spacer alkyl chain length. The redox behavior of quinone derivatives depended on the pH condition of the buffer solution. The pH dependence was in agreement with a theoretical value of E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 59pH for 2H⁺/2e⁻ process in the pH range 3–11. In the range higher than pH 11, the value was estimated with E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 30pH , which may correspond to H⁺/2e⁻ process. The tunneling barrier coefficients (β) for NQ and AQ SAMs were determined to be 0.12 and 0.73 per methylene group (CH₂), respectively. Comparison of the structures and the alkyl chain length of quinones derivatives on these electron transfers on the electrode is made.     

Photohydroxylation of 1,4-benzoquinone in aqueous solution revisited

In water, photolysis of 1,4-benzoquinone, Q gives rise to equal amounts of 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone HOQ and hydroquinone QH(2) which are formed with a quantum yield of Phi=0.42, independent of pH and Q concentration. By contrast, the rate of decay of the triplet (lambda(max)=282 and approximately 410 nm) which is the precursor of these products increases nonlinearly (k=(2-->3.8) x 10(6) s(-1)) with increasing Q concentration ((0.2-->10) mM). The free-radical yield detected by laser flash photolysis after the decay of the triplet also increases with increasing Q concentration but follows a different functional form. These observations are explained by a rapid equilibrium of a monomeric triplet Q* and an exciplex Q(2)* (K=5500+/-1000 M(-1)). While Q* adds water and subsequent enolizes into 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene Ph(OH)(3), Q(2)* decays by electron transfer and water addition yielding benzosemiquinone (.)QH and (.)OH adduct radicals (.)QOH. The latter enolizes to the 2-hydroxy-1,4-semiquinone radical (.)Q(OH)H within the time scale of the triplet decay and is subsequently rapidly (microsecond time scale) oxidized by Q to HOQ with the concomitant formation of (.)QH. On the post-millisecond time scale, that is, when (.)QH has decayed, Ph(OH)(3) is oxidized by Q yielding HOQ and QH(2) as followed by laser flash photolysis with diode array detection. The rate of this pH- and Q concentration-dependent reaction was independently determined by stopped-flow. This shows that there are two pathways to photohydroxylation; a free-radical pathway at high and a non-radical one at low Q concentration. In agreement with this, the yield of Ph(OH)(3) is most pronounced at low Q concentration. In the presence of phosphate buffer, Q* reacts with H(2)PO(4) (-) giving rise to an adduct which is subsequently oxidized by Q to 2-phosphato-1,4-benzoquinone QP. The current view that (.)OH is an intermediate in the photohydroxylation of Q has been overturned. This view had been based on the observation of the (.)OH adduct of DMPO when Q is photolyzed in the presence of this spin trap. It is now shown that Q*/Q(2)* oxidizes DMPO (k approximately 1 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) to its radical cation which subsequently reacts with water. Q*/Q(2)* react with alcohols by H abstraction (rates in units of M(-1) s(-1)): methanol (4.2 x 10(7)), ethanol (6.7 x 10(7)), 2-propanol (13 x 10(7)) and tertiary butyl alcohol ( approximately 0.2 x 10(7)). DMSO (2.7 x 10(9)) and O(2) ( approximately 2 x 10(9)) act as physical quenchers.     

Interactions of guanine and guanosine hydrates with quinones: a laser flash photolysis and magnetic field effect study

Laser flash photolysis and an external magnetic field have been used to study the interaction of two quinone molecules, namely, 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) and 2-methyl 1,4-naphthoquinone, commonly known as menadione (MQ), with one of the DNA bases, guanine (G) and its nucleoside guanosine hydrate (dG). In organic homogeneous medium, it has been observed that G undergoes a predominant hydrogen (H) abstraction reaction with both the quinones while dG supports photoinduced electron transfer (PET) along with H abstraction. On the other hand, in SDS medium, G supports PET with AQ but not with MQ. However, behavior of dG remains unperturbed toward AQ and MQ with the change in medium. All of these observations have been explained on the basis of stabilization of radical ion pair and difference in size of the quinones, which can affect the distance of approach among the interacting molecules.     

Photoreactions of 1,4-Naphthoquinones: effects of substituents and water on the intermediates and reactivity

The photochemistry of lapachol and other 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) derivatives, e.g. 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (MeONQ), 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-HONQ) or 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (5-HONQ) and 2-methyl-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (P-NQ) in solution at room temperature was studied by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy after nanosecond laser pulses at 248 nm. The triplet state and semiquinone radicals were observed for MeONQ, HONQ and P-NQ, whereas for lapachol, intramolecular H-atom and charge transfer processes take place, as in the case of vitamin K1. The photoinduced reaction of NQ into HONQ is initiated by nucleophilic water addition to the triplet state, and for the secondary reactions, a modified mechanism is proposed.     

Photochemistry of methoxyhydroquinone and methoxy-p-benzoquinone in solution related to the photoyellowing of the lignocellulosics.

The photoreactivity of methoxy-p-benzoquinone (MQ) and methoxyhydroquinone (MHQ) in dilute solution (10(-4)-10(-3) M) was studied using continuous irradiation and laser flash photolysis (LFP). The quinone irradiated in degassed tetrahydrofuran (THF) gives MHQ and an adduct with the solvent. Only the formation of hydroquinone is observed in ethanol, and hydroxylation is evidenced in water, whereas the compound is stable in CCl4. The bis-quinone, 4,4'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,5,2',5'-bisquinone, and the dibenzofurane-quinone, 8-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxydibenzofuran-1,4-quinone, are formed in the presence of MHQ, whereas the reactivity is low with ethylconiferyl alcohol. When MHQ is irradiated selectively in degassed THF, the formation of MQ and of the bis-hydroquinone, 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,5,2',5'-tetrahydroxy-biphenyl, are observed. The dimer is oxidized photochemically or thermally into the mono- or bis-quinones, the process being accelerated in alkaline medium. The formation of the dimers is strongly favored by the contiguous presence of quinone and hydroquinone. When MHQ is selectively irradiated in the presence of transethylconiferaldehyde (EtC), quinone formation and isomerization of EtC are observed. LFP experiments, performed with a selective excitation of MQ, indicate that the triplet state of the quinone is strongly quenched by MHQ to conduce to a semiquinone radical. The interaction between 3MQ* and MQ is mainly driven by an electron transfer process according to the similar value of the quenching rate constant found with another electron donor compound such as 1,4-dimethoxybenzene. By contrast, no strong quenching of 3EtC* by MHQ was observed. It is proposed that the photochemistry of the couple MQ/MHQ is governed by the formation of encounter complex between either 3MQ* and MHQ or 3MHQ* and MQ. Consequently, the fast part of the photoyellowing of lignocellulosics does not appear to involve the couple MHQ/MQ or MHQ/etherified coniferaldehyde, but more likely a combination of oxidation of the hydroquinone by ground-state oxygen and photohydration of the formed quinone from its triplet state, giving inter-alia more colored o-quinonoid type molecules.     

Binding modes in metal ion complexes of quinones and semiquinone radical anions: electron-transfer reactivity.

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (PQ) and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (PTQ) form 1:1 and 2:1 complexes with metal ions (M (n+)=Sc (3+), Y (3+), Mg (2+), and Ca (2+)) in acetonitrile (MeCN), respectively. The binding constants of PQ--M (n+) complexes vary depending on either the Lewis acidity or ion radius of metal ions. The one-electron reduced species (PTQ(-)) forms 1:1 complexes with M (n+), and PQ(-) also forms 1:1 complexes with Sc(3+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+), whereas PQ(-) forms 1:2 complexes with Y(3+) and La(3+), as indicated by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. On the other hand, semiquinone radical anions (Q(-) and NQ(-)) derived from p-benzoquinone (Q) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) form Sc(3+)-bridged pi-dimer radical anion complexes, Q(-)--(Sc(3+))(n)--Q and NQ(-)--(Sc(3+))(n)-NQ (n=2 and 3), respectively. The one-electron reduction potentials of quinones (PQ, PTQ, and Q) are largely positively shifted in the presence of M (n+). The rate constant of electron transfer from CoTPP (TPP(2-)=dianion of tetraphenylporphyrin) to PQ increases with increasing the concentration of Sc(3+) to reach a constant value, when all PQ molecules form the 1:1 complex with Sc(3+). Rates of electron transfer from 10,10'-dimethyl-9,9'-biacridine [(AcrH)(2)] to PTQ are also accelerated significantly by the presence of Sc(3+), Y(3+), and Mg(2+), exhibiting a first-order dependence with respect to concentrations of metal ions. In contrast to the case of o-quinones, unusually high kinetic orders are observed for rates of Sc(3+)-promoted electron transfer from tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)(3)] to p-quinones (Q): second-order dependence on concentration of Q, and second- and third-order dependence on concentration of Sc(3+) due to formation of highly ordered radical anion complexes, Q()--(Sc(3+))(n)--Q (n=2 and 3).