Structural studies of 1:1 quinone-hydroquinone complexes

Abstract

The structures of the 1:1 quinone-hydroquinone complexes of 2-phenyl and of 2-(4'-chloro) phenylbenzoquinone have been studied by X-ray methods. A superficial study would indicate that the quinhydrones are centrosymmetric and belong to the space group P2₁/c. However, other evidence indicates that the true crystal structure may belong to either the space group P2₁ or to Pc, or that the crystal may contain regions that would coresspond to each of these two non-centrosymmetric space groups. Some possible consequences of such a structural arrangement are briefly discussed.