The Vespiary

The Hive => Chemicals & Equipment => Topic started by: Vibrating_Lights on July 15, 2002, 09:09:00 AM

Title: P benzo from hydro
Post by: Vibrating_Lights on July 15, 2002, 09:09:00 AM

IN post No 317234 Laugh mentions that  Bromo hydroquinnone is reduced to Bromo p-benzoquinone apoun reaction with Ferric Chloride.  Does any one have the procedure for this. I assume it could be used with hydroquinnone to make p benzo as well.  Does ferric chloride have this dehydrogenation affect With any OH groups like reducing alcohols to ketones?????????
Vl_

Title: Swims experience
Post by: Mountain_Girl on July 15, 2002, 10:32:00 AM

This has been attempted (check

Post 325971 (missing)

(Mountain_Girl: "Haunted by metallic green crystals", Newbee Forum)for background).
Hydroquinone was dissolved in water and stirred.
To this was added FeCl₃ (about 3 x mass of hydroquinone) in aqueous solution, slowly from a dropping funnel, at room temperature. A ppte of quinhydrone appeared as the FeCl ₃ was added. Very quick and easy. Unfortunately quinhydrone is not quite benzoquinone. However it may have something to do with the quality of hydroquinone, so I would really like someone else to try this method with hydroquinone from a different source.

"Does ferric chloride have this dehydrogenation affect With any OH groups like reducing alcohols to ketones?????????"
Afaik FeCl₃ is not a strong enough oxidizing agent to reduce alcohols to ketones/aldehydes.