Zinc and cadmium complexes based on 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone

Zinc and cadmium bis-o-semuquinolate and catecholate complexes are synthesized by the reduction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (3,6-Q) with amalgamated metals in a medium of various solvents. The oxidation of the metal catecholate derivatives results in the corresponding mono-o-semiquinone complexes, which undergo symmetrization to form the metal bis-o-semiquinolates. The molecular structures of the complexes (3,6-SQ)₂Zn · Py, (3,6-SQ)₂Zn · H₂O, and (3,6-SQ)₂Cd · α,α′-Bipy (3,6-SQ is the radical anion of 3,6-Q) are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Magnetochemical studies are carried out for the zinc and cadmium bis-o-semiquinone complexes.