Aryl thalliation as a route to substituted 1,4-benzoquinones
Abstract
The reaction of arylthallium(III) trifluoroacetates with 90% hydrogen peroxide in trifluoroacetic acid is shown to give relatively good yields of 1,4-quinones. The oxidation takes place with either elimination or migration of the substituent group on the starting aromatic compound. The actual process that occurs depends on the nature of the substituent group, and on the electron density in the ring.