7 benzocyclobutenedione? and we have now found that cobalt complex 6 and iron complex 7 react with a wide variety of alkynes to give high yields of 1, 4-naphthoquinones (Table I). Cobalt complex 6 reacts with alkynes on treatment with AgBF4 in CH3CN under mild conditions (sealed tube, 110 OC, 20-40 h), while iron complex 7 produces naphthoquinones simply on heating in CH3CN in the presence of an alkyne (sealed tube, 100 OC, 6 h). ...