The Facile Oxidative Coupling of a Hindered Phenol, 2,6-Di-t-butylphenol, Driven by N,N′-Bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,4-benzoquinone Diimine; The Reaction Pattern Traced by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract Good yields of 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-t-butyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone were obtained by the reaction of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol with N,N′-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,4-benzoquinone diimine, which had been shown to undergo addition with aniline derivatives and phenols. The reaction was followed with 1H NMR spectroscopy to deduce the reaction intermediates.