Sonochemistry of quinones in argon-saturated aqueous solutions: enhanced cytochrome c reduction.

Sonolysis of argon-saturated aqueous quinone solutions resulted in an enhancement in ferricytochrome c (Cyt c) reduction. Upon addition of superoxide dismutase, Cyt c reduction was partially inhibited, thus implying a role of superoxide ion in this reduction process. Neither quinone hydrophobicity nor reduction potential exclusively controls the Cyt c reduction enhancement, although a preference for hydrophobicity versus reduction potential is noted.