Hydroquinone and

When a solution of, say, 1 g. of hydroquinone in 4 ml. of rectified spirit is poured into a solution of 1 g. of quinone in 30 ml. of water, qulnhydrone C,HA.C,H (0H)3, a complex of equimolecular amounts of the two components, is formed as dark green crystals having a gfistening metallic lustre, m.p. 172°. In solution, it is largely dissociated into quinone and hydroquinone. Quinhydrone is more conveniently prepared by the partial oxidation of hydroquinone with a solution of iron alum. 

If the compound to be tested is insoluble in water, it should be brought into solution by the addition of a little dioxan. Alcohols and some methyl ketones frequently react slowly in such cases it is advisable to employ a large excess (4-5 fold) of the relatively unstable reagent (3NaOI -> NaI03 -f- 2NaI). Quinones and hydroquinones also give the iodoform reaction. 

Noncnzymc-Catalyzcd Reactions The variable-time method has also been used to determine the concentration of nonenzymatic catalysts. Because a trace amount of catalyst can substantially enhance a reaction s rate, a kinetic determination of a catalyst s concentration is capable of providing an excellent detection limit. One of the most commonly used reactions is the reduction of H2O2 by reducing agents, such as thiosulfate, iodide, and hydroquinone. These reactions are catalyzed by trace levels of selected metal ions. Eor example the reduction of H2O2 by U... 

Reactions with Organic Compounds. Tetrafluoroethylene and OF2 react spontaneously to form C2F and COF2. Ethylene and OF2 may react explosively, but under controlled conditions monofluoroethane and 1,2-difluoroethane can be recovered (33). Benzene is oxidized to quinone and hydroquinone by OF2. Methanol and ethanol are oxidized at room temperature (4). Organic amines are extensively degraded by OF2 at room temperature, but primary aHphatic amines in a fluorocarbon solvent at —42°C are smoothly oxidized to the corresponding nitroso compounds (34). 

Another commercial appHcation of nucleophilic reactions of nitro-free duoroaromatics is the manufacture of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) high performance polymers from 4,4 -diduoroben2ophenone [345-92-6], and hydroquinone [121-31-9] (131) (see PoLYETHERS, AROMATIC). 

Displacement reactions with oxygen nucleophiles are of potential commercial interest. Alkaline hydrolysis provides 2-fluoro-6-hydroxypyridine [55758-32-2], a precursor to 6-fluoropyridyl phosphoms ester insecticides (410—412). Other oxygen nucleophiles such as bisphenol A and hydroquinone have been used to form aryl—pyridine copolymers (413). 

Because the reaction takes place in the Hquid, the amount of Hquid held in the contacting vessel is important, as are the Hquid physical properties such as viscosity, density, and surface tension. These properties affect gas bubble size and therefore phase boundary area and diffusion properties for rate considerations. Chemically, the oxidation rate is also dependent on the concentration of the anthrahydroquinone, the actual oxygen concentration in the Hquid, and the system temperature (64). The oxidation reaction is also exothermic, releasing the remaining 45% of the heat of formation from the elements. Temperature can be controUed by the various options described under hydrogenation. Added heat release can result from decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or direct reaction of H2O2 and hydroquinone (HQ) at a catalytic site (eq. 19). 

Hydroperoxidation of m- or />Diisopropylbenzene. This is an important industrial route to resorcinol and hydroquinone. The process in principle is identical to the cumene process for the manufacturing of phenol (qv). 

Starting from Benzene. In the direct oxidation of benzene [71-43-2] to phenol, formation of hydroquinone and catechol is observed (64). Ways to favor the formation of dihydroxybenzenes have been explored, hence CuCl in aqueous sulfuric acid medium catalyzes the hydroxylation of benzene to phenol (24%) and hydroquinone (8%) (65). The same effect can also be observed with Cu(II)—Cu(0) as a catalytic system (66). Efforts are now directed toward the use of Pd° on a support and Cu in aqueous acid and in the presence of a reducing agent such as CO, H2, or ethylene (67). Aromatic... 

Arsenious oxide, trivalent antimony (73), sulfurous acid (74), hydrogen sulfide (75), stannous ion, and thiocianate (76) have been recommended for the titration of iodine. However, none of these appears to have a greater sensitivity for the deterrnination of minute quantities of iodine than thiosulfate. Organic compounds such as formaldehyde (77), chloral hydrate (78), aldoses (79), acetone (70,80), and hydroquinone have also been suggested for this purpose. 

Methyl Vinyl Ketone. Methyl vinyl ketone [78-94-4] (3-buten-2-one) is a colorless Hquid with a pungent odor. It is stable only below 0°C, and readily polymerizes on standing at room temperature. It can be inhibited for storage and transportation by a mixture of acetic or formic acid and hydroquinone or catechol (266). This ketone is completely soluble in water, and forms a binary azeotrope with water (85 MVK 15 H2O vol %) at 75.8°C. 

A reexamination of polycarbonate chemistry was carried out about 50 years after the first aromatic polycarbonates of resorcinol and hydroquinone were discovered. In independent investigations at Bayer AG and General Electric, it was discovered that the polycarbonates of BPA could be prepared (eq. 2). Unlike the ahphatic polycarbonates prepared earlier, which were either hquids or low melting sohds, the aromatic polycarbonates were amorphous sohds having elevated glass-transition temperatures. 

Phthahc resins are usually processed to an acid number of 25—35, yielding a polymer with an average of 1800—2000. The solution viscosity of the polymer is usually followed to ascertain the polymer end point. The resin is cooled to 150°C and hydroquinone stabilizer (150 ppm) is added to prevent premature gelation during the subsequent blending process with styrene at 80°C. The final polymer solution is cooled to 25°C before a final quaUty check and dmmming out for shipment. 

Polyhydric phenols with more than two hydroxy groups (ie, the three positional isomers of benzenetriol, the three isomeric benzenetetrols, benzenepentol [4270-96-6] and benzenehexol [608-80-0]) are discussed in this article. The benzenediols are catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone (see Hydroquinone, RESORCINOL, AND CATECHOL). 

Thallium trinitrate oxidi2es naphthols and hydroquinone monoethers, respectively, to quinones and 4,4-diaIkoxycyclohexa-2,5-dienones, eg, 4,4-dimethoxy-2-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone [57197-11 -2] (108) (111,112). The yield of (108) is 89%. Because the monoacetal is easily converted to the quinone, the yield of 5-hydroxy-l,4-naphthoquinone [481-39-0] is 64%. 

Sulfation by sulfamic acid has been used ia the preparation of detergents from dodecyl, oleyl, and other higher alcohols. It is also used ia sulfating phenols and phenol—ethylene oxide condensation products. Secondary alcohols react ia the presence of an amide catalyst, eg, acetamide or urea (24). Pyridine has also been used. Tertiary alcohols do not react. Reactions with phenols yield phenyl ammonium sulfates. These reactions iaclude those of naphthols, cresol, anisole, anethole, pyrocatechol, and hydroquinone. Ammonium aryl sulfates are formed as iatermediates and sulfonates are formed by subsequent rearrangement (25,26). 

Recendy, the myelotoxicity has been proposed to occur through initial conversion of benzene to phenol and hydroquinone in the fiver, selective accumulation of hydroquinone in the bone marrow, followed by conversion of hydroquinone to benzoquinone via bone marrow myeloperoxidase. Benzoquinone is then proposed to react with macromolecules dismpting cellular processes (108). 

Improved syntheses from arylacetic acids and hydroquinone [123-31 -9] or substituted quinones have been devised for BDF dyes (12). 

Halogenated pyridazines are generally inert as arylating agents in Friedel-Crafts reactions. The only example is the reaction of 3,6-dichloropyridazine with resorcinol and hydroquinone to give 3-aryl-6-chloropyridazines. 

For the liquid crystal polyesters the basic structural units are derived from such materials as 5-hydroxybenzoic acid, terephthalic acid and hydroquinone. Some basic sequences from such materials are shown in Figure 25.25. 

Saccharin and the three diphenols, pyrocatechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone, react only weakly or not at all. The same is true of picric acid. On the other hand, cyclohexanesulfamic acid and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid are readily detected [1]. 

In this case an alkali soluble intermediate is formed almost quantitatively but is easily decomposed to the product and hydroquinone. 

Methylparathion is the corresponding dimethyl derivative. Later (1952) malathion found favour because of its decreased toxicity to mammals it is readily made in 90% yield by the addition of dimethyidithiophosphate to diethylmaleate in the presence of NEtr as a cataly.st and hydroquinone as a polymerization inhibitor ... 

Reaction of 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-3-methyl- 240 (R = Me), or a mixture of 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-3-aryl-57/-pyrido[l,2,3-dfe]-l,4-benzoxazin-5-ones 240 (R = Ar) and (8-aroylmethoxy)quinolin-2(l//)-ones 241 (R = Ar) with ethyl 2-(bromomethyl)acrylate in the presence of activated Zn and hydroquinone gave 8-[(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4-methylidene-5-oxo-2-furanyl)-methoxy]quinolin-2(l//)-ones (242) (97HCA1161). 6,7-Dihydro derivatives of 240 reacted similarly (00HCA349). 

The first example of a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction in a molten salt was carried out by Raudnitz and Laube [90]. It involved the reaction between phthalic anhydride and hydroquinone at 200 °C in NaCl/AlCl3 (X(A1C13) = 0.69) (Scheme 5.1-58). 

Bruce et al. carried out the cyclization of 4-phenylbutyric acid to tetralone in NaCl/AlCl3 (X(A1C13) = 0.68) at 180-200 °C [92]. The reaction between valerolactone and hydroquinone to give 3-methyl-4,7-dihydroxyindanone was also performed by Bruce, using the same ionic liquid and reaction conditions. These are shown in Scheme 5.1-60. 

Quinones are an interesting and valuable class of compounds because of their oxidation-reduction, or redox, properties. They can be easily reduced to hydroquinones (g-dihydroxybenzenes) by reagents such as NaBH4 and SnCl2/ and hydroquinones can be easily reoxidized back to quinones by Fremy s salt. 

Catechol-TMS, resorcinol-TMS, and hydroquinone-TMS (MW = 254). (The presence of phosphoric acid interferes with this separation.)... 

NOTE Cupric copper (Cu2+) is a catalyst for the hydrazine-oxygen reaction, as well as a catalyst for sulfite, DEHA, erythorbic acid, and hydroquinone. Cuprous copper (Cu+) acts as a complexing agent in the desirable formation of protective, pasivated copper oxide films. 

Pure (A)-1 -chloropropene was obtained by careful distillation of a mixture of (E)- and ( )-l -chloropropene (available from Columbia Organic Chemicals Company Inc.) using a Nester-Faust Teflon annular spinning band column [(Z)-l-chloropropene has b.p. 33° (A)-l-chloropropene has b.p. 37°]. Small quantities of powdered sodium bicarbonate and hydroquinone (1,4-benzenediol) placed in the distillation flask inhibit acid-catalyzed isomerization and polymerization. Gas chromatographic analysis of the material used in these experiments on a 4-m., 15% l,2,3-tris(2-cyanoethoxy)propane (TCEP) on Chromosorb P column, operated at room temperature, typically indicated that it had isomeric purity >99.9%. (A)- 1-Chloropropene is stable for several months at room temperature, but it should be stored in a cool place. 

The phenols pyrocatechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone can be detected with all chloramine T reagents. The detection sensitivity is about the same with chloramine T - sodium hydroxide and chloramine T - trichloroacetic acid. In all cases the detection limits are ca. 75 ng substance per chromatogram zone after the plate has been subsequently dipped in a paraffin oil solution. Somewhat less favorable detection limits of 150 to 200 ng substance per chromatogram zone are obtained after treatment with chloramine T - hydrochloric acid and chloramine T - sulfuric acid. 

Fig. 1 Fluorescence scan of a chromatogram track with 400 ng each of pyrocatechol (1), resorcinol (2) and hydroquinone (3) per chromatogram zone.

Garcia A, Fulton JE Jr (1996) The combination of glycolic acid and hydroquinone or kojic acid for the treatment of melasma and related conditions. Dermatol Surg 22 443-447... 

Fig. 16.2. a Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne vulgaris, b After a series of salicylic acid peels and hydroquinone 4%... 

Catechol is also obtained from coal coking and from certain wood residues. Vanillin (synthetic vanilla flavoring) is a catechol derivative. Resorcinol and hydroquinone are currently made by the same type of chemistry used... 

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