title: Photoreactions of 1,4-Naphthoquinones: effects of substituents and water on the intermediates and reactivity.
abstract: The photochemistry of lapachol and other 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) derivatives, e.g. 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (MeONQ), 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-HONQ) or 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (5-HONQ) and 2-methyl-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (P-NQ) in solution at room temperature was studied by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy after nanosecond laser pulses at 248 nm. The triplet state and semiquinone radicals were observed for MeONQ, HONQ and P-NQ, whereas for lapachol, intramolecular H-atom and charge transfer processes take place, as in the case of vitamin K1. The photoinduced reaction of NQ into HONQ is initiated by nucleophilic water addition to the triplet state, and for the secondary reactions, a modified mechanism is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Bioanorganische Chemie, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. goerner@mpi-muelheim.mpg.de
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Görner
mesh_terms: D000433:1-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010777:Photochemistry; D011809:Quinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D011809:Quinones; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D000433:1-Propanol; C035342:1,4-naphthoquinone