A Novel Approach Towards Intermolecular Stabilization ofpara-Quinone Methides. First Complexation of the Elusive, Simplest Quinone Methide, 4-Methylene-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one

“Simple” para-quinone methides were stabilized by their coordination to palladium (see figure). These complexes underwent a ligand-exchange reaction with a suitable ligand and the displaced quinone methide was immediately trapped by nucleophiles present in the solution.