polycyclic quinone

chemical compound

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July 2, 2026

Quick Summary

Polycyclic quinones are a type of cyclic organic compound characterized by a structure containing multiple fused rings and two carbonyl groups. These compounds play a role in biological coloration, acting as pigments (biochromes) found in various organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and higher plants.12

Some animals obtain polycyclic quinones by consuming plants. Notable examples include the aphin group, originally isolated from aphids, which are insects that feed on plants. The K vitamins are a type of naphthoquinone, a related class of quinones. Quinones are typically synthesized through the oxidation of aromatic amines, phenols, or hydrocarbons and are known for their ability to be reduced to a dihydroxy form.12

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coloration
Polycyclic quinones
The polycyclic quinones occur in some bacteria, fungi, and parts of higher plants. One of the more interesting representatives is the aphin group, so called because of their initial recovery from the hemolymph (circulating fluid) of several coloured species of aphids; aphids parasitize…
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The polycyclic quinones occur in some bacteria, fungi, and parts of higher plants. One of the more interesting representatives is the aphin group, so called because of their initial recovery from the hemolymph (circulating fluid) of several coloured species of aphids; aphids parasitize…
Read More