Stereoselective synthesis of fused heterocycles from substituted o-Benzoquinones and anilines

The reaction of trisubstituted o-benzoquinones with substituted anilines gives unstable o-benzoquinone imines which undergo intramolecular cyclization to 4aH-phenoxazine derivatives. Dimerization of the latter according to Diels-Alder yields complex heterocyclic systems, 7a,14a,15a,15b-tetrahydro-14,16-dioxa-5,9-diaza-8,15-ethenohexaphenes. Effective shielding of the carbonyl groups in 3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-isopropyl-o-benzoquinone makes it inactive toward substituted anilines.