Imination of Sterically Unshielded o‐Quinones in the Coordination Sphere of Zinc (II)

o‐Iminoquinones bearing unshielded chelating OCCN(R) site were synthesized in high yields in the zinc coordination sphere as the neutral complexes. The stability of one‐electron‐reduced forms of these o‐iminoquinones and the distribution of the unpaired electron density in the corresponding radical anion species were studied using cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy methods Preparation of o‐iminobenzoquinones by the reaction of primary amines with o‐quinones bearing a reduced degree of shielding of the chelate site, which is difficult to carry out with direct mixing of reagents, can be selectively and efficiently carried out in the Zn(II) coordination sphere.