Hydroquinone compounds

In the presence of nucleophilic solvents, a racemization is observed too in less than one hour, in the presence or in the absence of hydroquinone, compound (12) is fully racemized in methanol44. A mechanism analogous to that proposed to rationalize the optical instability of triorganotin halides can be given here 44). 

It is well to note at this point that the dihydroxy compound is the first identifiable compound from the photolysis and photo-oxidation reactions that actually has any color. The lack of other identifiable color compounds and also some preliminary experiments lead to a proposal [9] that the oxidation of the dihydroxy compound could actually continue on to give a quinone (Scheme 18.5, top). Given the ease of oxidation of hydroquinone compounds, this would seem to be a reasonable proposal. In this preliminary report where an orange-red solid was initially observed it was speculated that the color owed itself to a quinone compound as shown. This would add significantly to compounds that actually could be the color bodies formed upon weathering exposure. 

By performing the oxidation at elevated temperatures the phenols which would ordinarily yield polymers are converted instead to diphenoquinones. These quinones are readily reduced to the corresponding hydroquinones, compounds which promise to be useful as antioxidants and polymer intermediates. 

Other props methods of prepn are given in Ref 1. It forms addn compds, some of which are expl Benzidine Compound, CBH4N2Cl2+2(C, 2H, 2N2), violet crysts(from benz), mp expl mildly at ca 121°(Ref 3) Hydroquinone Compound, Cb1 N2C12+C6H602, dk-gm ndls, mp expl ca... 

Compound B is the doubly ketonic tautomeric form of hydroquinone, compound C, to which it isomerizes on standing in water. 

The inclusion complex of an unstable reactant or reagent is sometimes useful in organic synthesis in the solid state. For example, very reactive anhydrous hydrazine can be trapped as a 1 1 inclusion complex with hydroquinone (24). This 1 1 inclusion compound (24) is a stable white powder that can easily be prepared by mixing aqueous hydrazine with powdered hydroquinone. Compound 24 is... 

Much more work was done on extended quinones. Syntheses of six parent compounds (159-164) has been accomplished by two methods. In the first approach, a Friedel-Crafts reaction between thiophene-3,4-dicarboxylic acid and benzene or thiophenes was used, and in the second one chromium trioxide oxidation of the corresponding acetoxy derivatives was applied (72JOC1712). These systems behave differently in the presence of excess lithium aluminum hydride and aluminum hydride. Compounds 161 and 162 were reduced to hydroquinones, compounds 160 and 163 were deoxygenated... 

The solvent mixture, in which both the quinone- and hydroquinone-compounds must dissolve, is complex. The working solution contains, as a solvent for the quinone, mainly a mixture of aromatic compounds such as naphthalene or trimethylbenzene. Polar compounds such as tris-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphate, diisobutylcarbinol or methyl-cyclohexanol-acetate are suitable solvents for the hydro-quinone. 

The solvent mixture used is complex because of its many functions. The solvent mixture must dissolve both the quinone and hydroquinone compounds, have low solubility in H20, and be a nonparticipant in the reaction. A mixture of aromatic compounds such as naphthalene or trimethylbenzene are used to dissolve the quinone. Polar compounds such as diisobutylcabinol or methyl-cyclohexanol-acetate are used to dissolve the hydroquinone [108]. 

A case of bull s-eye maculopathy was reported in a 56-year-old woman who had been taking uva-ursi tea "regularly" (dose and frequency not reported) for 3 years. The woman reported a decrease in visual acuity in the third year. The reporting authors noted that hydroquinone compounds are known inhibitors of tyrosine kinase and thus melanin synthesis, and that decreased melanin in the eye might account for the maculopathy (Wang and Del Priore 2004). 

In summary, an unusual structural change of a vinylene-bridged ferrocene-hydroquinone compound, FCCHCHBQH2, was observed to occur by two-electron oxidation and two-proton elimination in methanol. The oxidation product, FcCHCBQH, which includes an allene and a quinonoid structure, exhibited a unique proton response, leading to an exchange of the magnetic properties. 

On adding i drop of bromine water to catechol, a deep red coloration is produced immediately. On gradually adding bromine water to a solution of hydroquinone, a deep red coloration is produced, followed by the separation of deep green crystals which then dissolve giving a yellow solution, i- and 2-Naphthol will decolorise hromine water, but usually no precipitate of the bromo compound can be obtained. 

About 0-1 per cent, of hydroquinone should be added as a stabiliser since n-hexaldehyde exhibits a great tendency to polymerise. To obtain perfectly pure n-/iexaldehyde, treat the 21 g. of the product with a solution of 42 g. of sodium bisulphite in 125 ml. of water and shake much bisulphite derivative will separate. Steam distil the suspension of the bisulphite compound until about 50 ml. of distillate have been collected this will remove any non-aldehydic impurities together with a little aldehyde. Cool the residual aldehyde bisulphite solution to 40-50 , and add slowly a solution of 32 g. of sodium bicarbonate in 80 ml. of water, and remove the free aldehyde by steam distillation. Separate the upper layer of n-hexaldehyde, wash it with a little water, dry with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and distil the pure aldehyde passes over at 128-128-5°. 

Benzaldehyde is easily oxidised by atmospheric oxygon giving, ultimately, benzoic acid. This auto-oxidation is considerably influenced by catalysts tiiose are considered to react with the unstable peroxide complexes which are the initial products of the oxidation. Catalysts which inhibit or retard auto-oxidation are termed anti-oxidants, and those that accelerate auto-oxidation are called pro-oxidants. Anti-oxidants find important applications in preserving many organic compounds, e.g., acrolein. For benzaldehyde, hydroquinone or catechol (considerably loss than U-1 per cent, is sufficient) are excellent anti-oxidants. 

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. 

Vinyl ethers and a,P unsaturated carbonyl compounds cyclize in a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction when heated together in an autoclave with small amounts of hydroquinone added to inhibit polymerisation. Acrolein gives 3,4-dihydro-2-methoxy-2JT-pyran (234,235), which can easily be hydrolysed to glutaraldehyde (236) or hydrogenated to 1,5-pentanediol (237). With 2-meth5lene-l,3-dicarbonyl compounds the reaction is nearly quantitative (238). 

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). 

In experimental animals and in vitro, DHBs show a variety of biological effects including binding of metaboHtes to various proteins. Clastogenic effects have been observed in vitro and in some in vivo studies with the three compounds. No reproductive effects have been shown by conventional studies with either hydroquinone, catechol, or resorcinol (122). Hydroquinone has been shown to induce nephrotoxicity and kidney tumors at very high doses in some strains of rat (123) catechol induces glandular stomach tumors at very high dose (124). Repeated dermal appHcation of resorcinol did not induce cancer formation (125). 

Oxidation. Oxidation of hydroxybenzaldehydes can result in the formation of a variety of compounds, depending on the reagents and conditions used. Replacement of the aldehyde function by a hydroxyl group results when 2- or 4-hydroxybenzaldehydes are treated with hydrogen peroxide in acidic (42) or basic (43) media pyrocatechol or hydroquinone are obtained, respectively. 

Examples of the hydroquinone inclusion compounds (91,93) are those formed with HCl, H2S, SO2, CH OH, HCOOH, CH CN (but not with C2H 0H, CH COOH or any other nitrile), benzene, thiophene, CH, noble gases, and other substances that can fit and remain inside the 0.4 nm cavities of the host crystals. That is, clathration of hydroquinone is essentially physical in nature, not chemical. A less than stoichiometric ratio of the guest may result, indicating that not all void spaces are occupied during formation of the framework. Hydroquinone clathrates are very stable at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Thermodynamic studies suggest them to be entropic in nature (88). 

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. 

Toluhydroquinone and methyl / fX butyUiydroquinone provide improved resin color retention 2,5-di-/-butyIhydroquinone also moderates the cure rate of the resin. Quaternary ammonium compounds, such as benzyl trimethyl ammonium hydroxide, are effective stabilizers in combination with hydroquinones and also produce beneficial improvements in color when promoted with cobalt octoate. Copper naphthenate is an active stabilizer at levels of 10 ppm at higher levels (150 ppm) it infiuences the cure rate. Tertiary butylcatechol (TBC) is a popular stabilizer used by fabricators to adjust room temperature gelation characteristics. 

The N-oxides of isoquinolines have proved to be excellent intermediates for the preparation of many compounds. Trialkylboranes give 1-alkyl derivatives (147). With cyanogen bromide in ethanol, ethyl N-(l- and 4-isoquinolyl)carbamates are formed (148). A compHcated but potentially important reaction is the formation of 1-acetonyLisoquinoline and 1-cyanoisoquinoline [1198-30-7] when isoquinoline N-oxide reacts with metbacrylonitrile in the presence of hydroquinone (149). Isoquinoline N-oxide undergoes direct acylamination with /V-benzoylanilinoisoquinoline salts to form 1-/V-benzoylanilinoisoquinoline [53112-20-4] in 55% yield (150). A similar reaction of AJ-sulfinyl- -toluenesulfonamide leads to l-(tos5larriino)isoquinoline [25770-51-8] which is readily hydrolyzed to 1-aminoisoquinoline (151). 

The close electrochemical relationship of the simple quinones, (2) and (3), with hydroquinone (1,4-benzenediol) (4) and catechol (1,2-benzenediol) (5), respectively, has proven useful in ways extending beyond their offering an attractive synthetic route. Photographic developers and dye syntheses often involve (4) or its derivatives (10). Biochemists have found much interest in the interaction of mercaptans and amino acids with various compounds related to (3). The reversible redox couple formed in many such examples and the frequendy observed quinonoid chemistry make it difficult to avoid a discussion of the aromatic reduction products of quinones (see Hydroquinone, resorcinol, and catechol). 

Unlike simple, unhindered carbonyl compounds, the quinones do not yield bisulfite addition products, but undergo ring addition. Another significant carbonyl reaction is the addition of tertiary phosphites under anhydrous conditions (98). The ester product (99) is easily hydroly2ed, and the overall sequence produces excellent yields of hydroquinone monoethers. 

Because of the presence of an extended polyene chain, the chemical and physical properties of the retinoids and carotenoids are dominated by this feature. Vitamin A and related substances are yellow compounds which are unstable in the presence of oxygen and light. This decay can be accelerated by heat and trace metals. Retinol is stable to base but is subject to acid-cataly2ed dehydration in the presence of dilute acids to yield anhydrovitamin A [1224-18-8] (16). Retro-vitamin A [16729-22-9] (17) is obtained by treatment of retinol in the presence of concentrated hydrobromic acid. In the case of retinoic acid and retinal, reisomerization is possible after conversion to appropriate derivatives such as the acid chloride or the hydroquinone adduct. Table 1 Hsts the physical properties of -carotene [7235-40-7] and vitamin A. 

---