Sequential, One‐Pot Access to Arylated Benzoquinones/Naphthoquinones from Phenols/Naphthols

Abstract A sequential one‐pot approach towards arylated benzoquinones and naphthoquinones is reported. The reaction proceeds through oxidation of phenols/naphthols followed by CH‐arylation with a catalytic amount of triflic acid. Preliminary cytotoxic studies were carried out with five different cell lines and some of the compounds show promising activity.