Camphorquinone, also known as 2,3-bornanedione, is an organic compound derived from camphor. A yellow solid, it is used as a photoinitiator in curing dental composites. Camphorquinone is produced by the Riley oxidation of camphor with selenium dioxide.
Photocuring details Polymerization is induced very slowly by camphorquinone, so amines such as N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine, 2-ethyl-dimethylbenzoate, N-phenylglycine are generally added to increase the rate of curing.
It absorbs very weakly at 468 nm (extinction coefficient of 40 M−1·cm−1) giving it a pale yellow color. Photoexcitation results in nearly quantitative formation of its triplet state through intersystem crossing and very faint fluorescence.
Reactions It can be hydrolyzed by the enzyme 6-oxocamphor hydrolase.
Camphorquinone has been examined as a reagent in organic synthesis.
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