quinone (redirected from Quinones)

quinone

Any member of a class of cyclic organic compounds comprising a six-membered unsaturated ring (see saturation) to which two oxygen atoms are bonded as carbonyl groups (−C=O; see functional group). This structure plays an important role in theories of chemical structure and colour, since quinones occur as pigments in bacteria, fungi, and certain higher plants; animals containing quinones obtain them from plants they eat. The K vitamins (see vitamin K) are naphthoquinones. The term quinone often specifically denotes para-benzoquinone (C₆H₄O₂), a bright yellow solid with a sharp odour used in manufacturing dyes and fungicides and in photography.