Analysis of quinones

Written by J.A Dobado | Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Quinones are colored crystalline compounds (most of them are yellow) with a pungent odor. They show in the IR spectrum a carbonyl band near 1670 cm-1.

Iodide test

Most quinones release iodine from acidified potassium iodide solutions.

Quinone release iondine IK acid media
Quinone release of iondine from KI in acid media.

Oximes and semicarbazones

Quinones often form oximes and semicarbazones that often do not have the usual structure.

Reduction to dihydroxybenzenes (diphenols)

Suspend the quinone in dilute HCl and add a “pinch” of zinc powder. When the solution becomes colorless, neutralize it with sodium bicarbonate and extract the dihydroxybenzene with ether. Evaporate the solvent and identify it.

Catechol (o-dihydroxybenzene) and hydroquinone (p-dihydroxybenzene) reduce the Tollens’ reagent when cold and the Fehling’s reagent when hot (see Fehling’s test).

catechol dihydroxybenzene hydroquinone Tollens Fehling reagent test
Catechol and hydroxiquinone reduction with Fehling and Tollens reagents.

Resorcinol (m-dihydroxybenzene) reduces both in the hot state. Pyrogallol (1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene) also reduces silver salts to metallic silver.

Quinoxaline formation

This test is applicable for o-quinones.

quinoxaline formation o-quinones
Quinoxaline formation fromo-quinones.

Dissolve the o-quinone in alcohol or glacial acetic acid and add an equivalent amount of o-phenylenediamine in alcohol. Heat the mixture on a steam bath for 15-20 min, cool and dilute with water to crystallize. Recrystallize in EtOH/H2O.

Return to the functional group analysis page.

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