The photochemistry of two phytyl quinones: α-tocopherylquinone and vitamin K1

Abstract
The photochemistry of α-tocopherylquinone and of vitamin K1 has been investigated by steady-state and flash-photolysis techniques. In both quinones, in addition to the formation of semiquinones by reaction with solvent, transients assigned to hydroxy-ortho-quinone methides (or their anions) are observed. The ortho-quinone methide from α-tocopherylquinone was only observed in polar solvents and seems to arise by proton transfer following an initial intramolecular hydrogen abstraction. With vitamin K1. the ortho-quinone methide was the dominant transient in all solvents. The possible relevance of this reaction to photosynthesis is briefly discussed.

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