A simple and efficient procedure for the preparation of p-quinols by hypervalent iodine oxidation of phenols and phenol tripropylsilyl ethers

Oxidation of para-substituted phenols with [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo] benzene (BTIB) in aqueous acetonitrile at 0 °C gives p-quinols in moderate to good yields; higher yields are obtained when tripropylsilyl ethers of phenols are used.