Pulse radiolytic one-electron reduction of 1,4-amino and hydroxy disubstituted 9,10-anthraquinones

The semiquinone radicals produced by one-electron reduction of 1-amino-4-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone and 1,4-diamino-9,10-anthraquinone have been studied in aqueous-organic mixed solvent using pulse radiolysis technique. Spectroscopic characteristics, kinetic characteristics of formation and decay, acid/base behaviour and redox characteristics of the semiquinones have been investigated and compared with those of some similar systems studied earlier. It has been shown that the variation of the disproportionation equilibria involving the reduced semiquinone radicals, the parent quinone and the fully reduced hydroquinone with pH of the solutions follow a similar trend as observed in the case of other dihydroxy quinones. Stability of the semiquinones over a broad pH range and their thermodynamic properties have been correlated.