THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORGANOTRANSITION METAL SYNTHESIS OF QUINONES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)91423-1

A new and very general synthesis of quinones is described from conception to the current state of maturity.The chemistry relies on a convergent joining of a transition metal complex and an alkyne to provide benzoquinones (from maleoylmetal complexes) and naphthoquinones (from phthaloylmatal complexes).Significant aspects of this chemistry are its generality (terminal, internal, electron rich, and electron deficient alkynes react), its mildness (reactions can be run between room temperature and 80 deg C) and its functional group compabtibility (aldehydes, ketones, esters, nitriles, olefins, halides acetals, ketals, etc. survive).