Novel and efficient synthesis of p-quinones in water via oxidative demethylation of phenol ethers using hypervalent iodine(III) reagents

A new method for preparing p-quinone derivatives from phenol ether derivatives in water using the hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) was developed. The present reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. This oxidation is expected to be environmentally benign since it uses recyclable poly-bis(trifluoroacetoxyiodo)styrene (PBTIS) in water.