Synthesis and Reaction of ortho-Benzoquinone Monohemiaminals

The preparation and reactions of ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminals are described. The oxidative dearomatization of phenols bearing amino alcohol groups induced N-cyclization to afford ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminals. The N-cyclization stereoselectively affords the product when a chiral amino alcohol is used as the substituent. The chiral ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminal undergoes stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions with electron-deficient alkenes, as expected, confirming the promising utility of ortho-benzoquinone monohemiaminals.