Research on unique masked ortho-benzoquinone, monohemiaminal: Synthesis and reactions

Synthesis of ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminals via the oxidative dearomatization/O-cyclization cascades of phenols bearing an ortho substituent derived from an amino alcohol with PIDA is described. The cascade reactions of substrates bearing a chiral substituent were found to proceed in a stereoselective manner. The Diels-Alder reactions of the ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminals proceed in a highly stereoselective manner. The oxidative dearomatization/O-cyclization cascade affording the ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminal had never been reported; hence, there is still ample scope for further investigation.