Hydroquinone formation

Validation of the model. Validation of the model was performed using data from rat and mouse liver microsome preparations (Schlosser et al. 1993). The assumption that benzene and its metabolites compete for the same enzyme reaction site was supported in part by the observation of a lag time in the benzene-to-hydroquinone reaction as compared to the phenol-to-hydroquinone reaction. This lag could be explained by the fact that benzene is first hydrolyzed to phenol, which is then hydrolyzed to hydroquinone, and if all compounds are substrates for P-450 2E1, the kinetics of this pathway would be slowed compared to those of the direct phenol-to-hydroquinone pathway. The model also adequately predicted phenol depletion and concomitant hydroquinone formation resulting from phenol incubations. 

Quinone/Hydroquinone Formation. In studies on biodegradation of lignin models with ligninolytic cultures of P. chrysosporium (and other fungi), a number of quinones and hydroquinones were isolated. In other studies their formation has been implied from the isolation of their structural counterparts (29,30), where rapid fungal degradation of the quinones prevented their isolation. Various routes to these metabolic intermediates exist, which have been extensively reviewed (26,27). 

Both stopped-flow and rapid freeze quench kinetic techniques show that the substrate reduces the flavin to its hydroquinone form at a rate faster than catalytic turnover Reoxidation of the flavin hydroquinone by the oxidized Fe4/S4 center leads to formation of a unique spin-coupled species at a rate which appears to be rate limiting in catalysis. Formation of this requires the substrate since dithionite reduction leads to flavin hydroquinone formation and a rhombic ESR spectrum typical of a reduced iron-sulfur protein . The appearance of such a spin-coupled flavin-iron sulfur species suggests the close proximity of the two redox centers and provides a valuable system for the study of flavin-iron sulfur interactions. The publication of further studies of this interesting system is looked forward to with great anticipation. 

Yields and product distribution are closely related to the composition of the reaction medium. High selectivity, relative to both phenol and hydrogen peroxide, designates acetone and methanol as the solvents of choice. Catechol/hydroquinone ratio varies in the range 0.5-1.3, well removed from the statistical distribution, owing to the shape selectivity of TS-1. Hydroquinone formation predominates in methanol, whereas the reverse occurs in acetone or acetone-water mixtures. At elevated phenol concentrations, however, even in the presence of methanol the catechol/hydroquinone ratio can approach unity [9]. In acetonitrile and 2-butanone, kinetics and selectivity were both significantly reduced [12], However the nature of the TS-1 used in this study has been the subject of some disputes [8,13]. 

FIGURE 6 Hydroquinone formation from the reaction of peroxynitrite (ONOO ), nitric oxide (NO), or both (added simultaneously) with phenol at pH 6.0, 7.4, and 8.0. Reactions and product analysis were as described in the legend to Fig. 3. 

When the reaction is carried out in methanol the reaction gives initialy equal amounts of hydroquinone and catechol but the selectivity increases with reaction time. This was explained assuming that catechol is produced on the external surface of the zeolite, whereas hydroquinone formation prevails at the internal catalytic sites by shape selectivity. After a short period, the activity of the external surface sites was killed by cocking and hydroquinone is obtained selectively. On the contrary, acetone prevents the formation of coke on the external surface by dissolving it. The selectivity of the reaction will then be the sum of external and internal catalysis. 

Glucose + Benzoquinone — Gluconolactone + Hydroquinone The rate of hydroquinone formation is followed amperometrically. 

Dehydrogenation of Hydrocarbons. The mechanism by which quinones effect dehydrogenation is believed to involve an initial rate-determining transfer of hydride ion from the hydrocarbon followed by a rapid proton transfer leading to hydroquinone formation. Dehydrogenation is therefore dependent upon the degree of stabilization of the incipient carbocation and is enhanced by the presence of functionality capable of stabilizing the transition state. As a consequence, unactivated... 

To a cold aqueous solution of benzoquinone, add 1 drop of sulphurous acid solution (SOj-water) the solution turns deep green-brown owing to the intermediate formation of quinhydrone, CeH402,CeIl4(0H)2. Now add excess of sulphurous acid the solution becomes colourless owing to the formation of hydroquinone. Add a few drops of FeClj solution the reaction is reversed and the deep yellow colour (distinct from that of FeCl ) is restored. 

Acryhc acid and esters are stabilized with minimum amounts of inhibitors consistent with stabihty and safety. The acryhc monomers must be stable and there should be no polymer formation for prolonged periods with normal storage and shipping (4,106). The monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (MEHQ) is frequentiy used as inhibitor and low inhibitor grades of the acrylate monomers are available for bulk handling. MEHQ at 10—15 ppm is generally... 

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). 

Resorcinol or hydroquinone production from m- or -diisopropylben2ene [100-18-5] is realized in two steps, air oxidation and cleavage, as shown above. Air oxidation to obtain the dihydroperoxide (DHP) coproduces the corresponding hydroxyhydroperoxide (HHP) and dicarbinol (DC). This formation of alcohols is inherent to the autooxidation process itself and the amounts increase as DIPB conversion increases. Generally, this oxidation is carried out at 90—100°C in aqueous sodium hydroxide with eventually, in addition, organic bases (pyridine, imidazole, citrate, or oxalate) (8) as well as cobalt or copper salts (9). 

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... 

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). 

Conversion of Aromatic Rings to Nonaromatic Cyclic Structures. On treatment with oxidants such as chlorine, hypochlorite anion, chlorine dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxy acids, the aromatic nuclei in lignin typically ate converted to o- and -quinoid stmctures and oxinane derivatives of quinols. Because of thein relatively high reactivity, these stmctures often appear as transient intermediates rather than as end products. Further reactions of the intermediates lead to the formation of catechol, hydroquinone, and mono- and dicarboxyhc acids. 

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). 

Scheme 3b). It is instructive at this point to reiterate that the furan nucleus can be used in synthesis as a progenitor for a 1,4-dicarbonyl. Whereas the action of aqueous acid on a furan is known to provide direct access to a 1,4-dicarbonyl compound, exposure of a furan to an alcohol and an acid catalyst should result in the formation of a 1,4-diketal. Indeed, when a solution of intermediate 15 in benzene is treated with excess ethylene glycol, a catalytic amount of / ara-toluenesulfonic acid, and a trace of hydroquinone at reflux, bisethylene ketal 14 is formed in a yield of 71 %. The azeotropic removal of water provides a driving force for the ketalization reaction, and the presence of a trace of hydroquinone suppresses the formation of polymeric material. Through a Finkelstein reaction,14 the action of sodium iodide on primary bromide 14 results in the formation of primary iodide 23, a substance which is then treated, in crude form, with triphenylphosphine to give crystalline phosphonium iodide 24 in a yield of 93 % from 14.

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