Activated sterically strained C=N bond in N-substituted p-quinone mono- and diimines: XIV. Reaction of some 3,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimines with alcohols

Steric strain in the C=N-C fragment in 3,5-disubstituted N-acyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimines, unlike their N-arylsulfonyl analogs, leads to increase of the C=N-C angle above 130° or twisting of the double C=N bond and loss of planarity of the quinoid ring. This structural transformation enhances the reactivity of the C=N bond so that 1,2-addition of alcohols becomes possible with formation of sterically unstrained cyclohexadienone structure with sp 3-hybridized C4 carbon atom.