In this work, the effect of alcohols as hydrogen donors on hydrated electron (eaq(-)) generation from pbenzoquinone (p-BQ) photolysis was investigated by quantum chemical calculations and experiments to further understand the underlying mechanisms associated within the p-BOJUV process. Theoretically, the UV photolysis of p-BQ at 253.7 nm in the presence of H2O could induce the formation of p-HOC6H4OH and hydroxy-p-benzoquinone, which was almost independent of the addition of CH3OH. While, the first triplet state of hydroxy-p-benzoquinone preferred to react with CH3OH (rather than H2O) to release the corresponding semiquinone radical and hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH). These two radicals could induce the reduction of p-BQ to p-benzosemiquinone radical and thus enhanced the formation of pHOC(6)H(4)OH as the precursor of eaq-. Experimentally, the detection of e(aq)- generated in the process was accomplished by the degradation of monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) (the probe of e(aq)(-)). With the addition of CH3OH, the degradation of MCAA was accelerated in the p-BQJUV process. A similar acceleration was also observed by the addition of ethanol or 2-propanol with the alpha-H. However, tert-butanol, which is without the alpha-H in the structure, didn't induce the acceleration. Since the quinone-like and alcoholic groups are widely distributed in the environment, these findings may improve the understanding of the photochemistry of quinones in the presence of alcohols with the alpha-H. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.