A novel method for the generation of 2,3-naphthoquinodimethanes utilizing samarium(II) iodide-promoted allene synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)60926-7

2,3-Naphthoquinodimethanes are easily generated from o-bis(α-acetoxypropargyl)benzene derivatives with SmI₂ in the presence of palladium catalyst under mild conditions. The reactions of the quinodimethane intermediates were found to follow the different paths depending on the acetylenic substituents of substrates.