Synthesis, redox properties, and basicity of substituted 1-aminoanthraquinones: spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies in acetonitrile solutions

1-Amino-, 1-ethylamino-, and 1-(diethylamino)-anthraquinone were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, acid-base titration, electrochemical methods, and quantum-chemical (QM) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31 ++G(**) level. Acid-base titration and the relative differences between the free energies of the basic and acidic forms of the studied species show that 1-(diethylamino)anthraquinone is the strongest base in an acetonitrile solution. Moreover, the structural differences between the B3LYP-optimized neutral and protonated anthraquinones, notably the presence or the absence of internal hydrogen bonds, account well for the sequence of the measured/calculated basicity. The basicity of the investigated compounds strongly influences their electrochemical properties in acetonitrile. Indeed, the cyclic voltammograms of 1-aminoanthraquinone and 1-(ethylamino)anthraquinone display two well-resolved reduction waves that indicate a two-step reduction process (EE mechanism). On the other hand, the electroreduction of 1-(diethylamino)anthraquinone becomes complicated by the interaction of its reduced forms with traces of water present in an acetonitrile solution (ECE mechanism). The mechanism of this reaction is proposed, and its possibility to occur is examined based on QM calculations.