Summary: For the firzit time synthetic methodology is presented which allows the facile construction of 1, 4-benzoquinones which are alkylated, alkynylated, or arylated at the 2, 5 positions. Specifically, 2, 5-diethoxy-and 2, 5-dichloro-3, 6-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzoquinone react with organolithium reagents via 1, 2 addition to the carbonyl groups. The enol ether linkages in the resulting adducts undergo acid hydrolysis to give the 2, 5-disubstituted 1, 4 ...
