A Rapid and Efficient Synthesis of Quinone Derivatives: Ru(II)- or Ir(I)-Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation of Phenols and Methoxyarenes

Hydroquinone and methoxybenzene derivatives were catalytically oxidized promptly to the corresponding quinones in up to 99% yield. With a catalyst loading of 0.01 mol %, a maximum TON of 8.4×103 was attained in the case of Ru(II)‐complex. Ru(II)(pybox‐dh)(pydic) is able to enhance the hydrogen peroxide oxidation of substituted hydroquinones as well as methoxybenzenes, but Ir[(coe)2Cl]2 and Ir[(cod)Cl]2 were found to be effective catalysts only for the former substrates under similar oxidation conditions.