Geometrical and energetical aspects of structure of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinones

From the geometrical point of view, all observed conformations of the 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone fragments are determined by the inequivalent positions of the Me groups of the tBu substitutes relative to the carbonyl oxygen atoms. The geometrical inequivalence is believed to cause the energetic inequivalence of the Me groups. The relevant quantum mechanical computations revealed intramolecular contacts of the C=O···H-(tBu)-type (2.37–3.83 kcal/mole) that can be interpreted to be hydrogen bonding interactions.