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Tetraphenyl-p-benzoquinone, according to its single crystal structure, shows some steric congestion: its quinone ring is distorted by 7° to a chair conformation, and its phenyl substituents are twisted around their CC axes between 46° and 72°. The half-wave reduction potentials of -0.57 and -1.25 V in acetonitrile confirm negligible π interaction of the phenyl substituents. Addition of alkalimetal tetraphenylborate salts lowers the second reduction potential due to contact ion formation, which can be confirmed by UV/VIS spectra recorded under aprotic conditions. Extensive ESR/ENDOR investigations prove the formation of the following species in THF solution: Tetraphenyl-p-benzosemiquinone radical anion contact ion pairs [M·⊖ Me⊕solv]' (Me⊕: Li⊕, Na⊕, Rb⊕, Cs⊕) and contact triple ion radical cations both with identical cations [M·⊖ (Me⊕solv)2]·⊕ (Me⊕: Li⊕, Na⊕, Cs⊕) and different cations [M·⊖ (Li⊕solv)(Me⊕solv)]·⊕ (Me⊕: Na⊕, Cs⊕). Addition of crown ethers can lead to external solvation of the Me⊕ counter cations, whereas cryptands form internal solvation complexes. The radical anion of 2,6-diphenyl-p-benzosemiquinone adds cations at its phenyl-free molecular half. The radical anion salt [tetraphenyl-p-benzosemiquinone·⊖ (Na⊕(tetrahydropyrane) 2)] could be crystallized and its structure determined at 200 K. In agreement with the Hirota sign rules for contact radicals in solution, the Na⊕ ion is found 62 pm above the π plane and 29° outside the axis of the CO bound, which is elongated due to one-electron reduction by 5 pm to 127 pm.
Cyclovoltammetric measurements of solutions containing the rather basic tetra-(2′-pyridyl)pyrazine allow to detect even traces of water and thus can be used as a touchstone for aprotic (cH⊕ < 1 ppm) conditions. On exchange of the “innocent” tetrabutylammonium R4N⊕ as supporting electrolyte cation by “interactive” ones such as Li⊕) or Na⊕, considerable changes in the reduction potentials are observed due to ion pair formation.