Studies on quinones. VII. Synthesis of some benzo[b]thiophene-4,7-diones

The synthesis of methyl 4,7-dihydro-4,7-dioxobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate ( 20 ) based on the reaction of methyl mercaptoacetate with activated 1,4-benzoquinones is described. Methyl 4,7-dihydro-4,7-dioxo-5-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate ( 24 ) and its corresponding methyl ether 26 were obtained through a Thiele-Winter acetoxylation on 20 . On the basis of the properties of methyl 4,7-dihydro-4,7-dioxo-6-methoxy-benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate ( 21 ) obtained from 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde ( 32 ), the structures of the products 24 and 26 are proposed.