The interaction between polymerization initiators and inhibitors in solutions—VIII. The mechanism of the reaction of azobisisobutyronitrile with p-benzoquinone and chloranil in polar and nonpolar solvents

The reactions of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) with p-benzoquinone (BQ) and chloranil in toluene, chlorobenzene and acetonitrile, have been investigated by isolation and identification of the reaction products. In toluene and chlorobenzene, isobutyroylamino hydroquinone together with tetramethyl dioxazinobenzene are formed in the case of (BQ); the corresponding mono- and dioxazinobenzene derivatives are formed in the case of chloranil. In acetonitrile, however, only polyquinonoid resinous derivatives of the quinones are obtained. The crystalline derivatives as well as the resinous products have no nitrile groups in their structures and the nitrogen atom is directly attached to the parent quinone nucleus. This fact indicates that the radicals from AIBN react with quinones exclusively in the ketenimine form. A mechanism based on the possibility of electron-transfer from the radical to the quinone molecule to form charged species has been suggested. The degree of separation of these species is determined by the polarity of the solvent. Combination of the charged entities produces nuclear-substituted intermediates which may be eventually isolated as hydroquinones or subjected to further radical reactions with the ketenimine substituent to form the oxazinobenzene derivatives. The formation of ether derivatives of hydroquinone and tetrachlorohydroquinone in the reaction of BQ and chloranil with AIBN is accordingly excluded.