Electrochemical and infrared-spectroscopic characterization of redox reactions of p-quinones

Infrared (IR) spectra of redox products of quinones in environments of different polarity and proton activity were obtained in order to get information on the molecular structure of these species. We have investigated nine p quinones in acetonitrile (MeCN), methanol, tetrahydrofuran (THF), CH 2 Cl 2 , and water with a combination of electrochemistry and ultraviolet (UV), visible (vis), and IR spectroscopy. A thin-layer electrochemical cell was used to generate the redox products and to monitor them simultaneously in the UV/vis/IR spectral range