The synthesis of tetraoxygenated bromonaphthoquinones 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, key intermediates for a synthesis of the 3C protease inhibitor, thysanone, were investigated. Addition of 1- methoxy-1, 3-bis (trimethylsilyloxy)-1, 3-butadiene 8 to 2, 6-dibromo-1, 4-benzoquinone 10 in benzene afforded a mixture of naphthoquinone 6a, arising from Diels–Alder addition followed by aromatisation, and Michael adduct 12. The Michael adduct 12 predominated ...