Abstract
When ubiquinone (35) (I) was irradiated with sunlight in ethanol or methanol, it was converted to some substances and the absorption at 275 mμ characteristic of homologues of ubiquinone decreased, the absorption around 240 mμ increasing. The reaction product was purified by chromatography on silicic acid to give nine fractions. In this case, when ethanol was used as solvent, acetaldehyde was formed, and when methanol was used, formaldehyde was produced. The same conversion was observed by irradiation with a mercury lamp. I was converted into the hydroquinone compound (II) in a sealed tube, in which the air was replaced by nitrogen.
