Structure of the oxidative dimerization product of 4,6-di(tert-butyl)pyrogallol

The structure of the oxidation product of 4,6-di(tert-butyl)pyrogallol, viz., 6,10a-dihydroxy-3,4a, 7,9-tetra(tert-butyl)-1,2,4a,10a-tetrahydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxine-1,2-dione, was established by X-ray diffraction. Dimerization of intermediate 3-hydroxy-4,6-di(tert-butyl)-1,2-benzoquinone occurs by the mechanism of Diels—Alder heterocyclization.