Aktivierte Chinone: Substitution von Azulenen,Benzofuran und Indolen durch 2-Methoxycarbonyl-1,4-benzochinon. Regiospezifische Synthesen von Polymethoxy-fluorenonen und eine neue Synthese des 2,6-Dihydro-naphtho[1,2,3-cd]indol-6-on-Systems

Activated quinones: substitution reactions by methoxy-carbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone of azulenes, benzofuran and indoles; regiospecific syntheses of polymethoxy-fluorenones; a new synthesis of the 2,6-dihydro-naphtho1,2,3-cd]indol-6-one system. We present new electrophilic substitution reactions of azulenes and 5-membered heterocyclics by methoxy-carbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinones 3a and 5 are prepared from azulene, and 3b from guaiazulene (see Scheme 1). Benzofuran undergoes α- and β-substitution (hydroquinones 9 10 ) (see Scheme 2). Only β-substitution is observed with indole (hydroquinone 20 ) (see Scheme 4). After methylation, saponification and intramolecular acylation of the substituted indoles 22c, 22d , derivatives of 2,6-dihydro-naphtho1,2,3-cd]indol-6-one have been obtained. Spectral data prove the presence of the methylidenequinone tautomer. By protonation or alkylation at the carbonyl group of 23 , the violet, highly delocalized 16π-electron systems 25 are generated. Analogously, polymethoxy-fluorenones have been prepared from methoxylated diphenylquinones 15 (see Scheme 3). They also are transformed by protonation and alkylation to the highly coloured and delocalized 12 π-electron systems 18 . By contrast, anthracene is not substituted by methoxycarbonyl-1,4-benzoquinone, but undergoes cycloaddition to the triptycene derivative 1 (see Scheme 1). A summary is presented of previously described reactions of activated quinones.