2,3-Diaminonaphthalene-1,4-dione: Versatile precursor for the synthesis of molecular systems

The current review investigates the reactivity of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene-1,4-dione in the production of substituted and annulated 1,4-naphthoquinones. 2,3-Diaminonaphthalene-1,4-dione has two adjacent amino functions, allowing for reactions with a variety of electrophilic centers. They are regarded as effective chemical reagents capable of producing a wide range of heterocyclic derivatives with biological applications and favorable electrochemical properties. We reviewed all available papers on the synthesis of substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones via the reactions of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene-1,4-dione with various electrophiles. This review includes all reports in which 2,3-diaminonaphthalene-1,4-dione is annulated, yielding heterocycles with mono-, bi-, tri-, and tetracyclic rings. The review is divided into sections based on the type of annulation system and number of heteroatoms in each system.