Facile oxidation of fused 1,4-dimethoxybenzenes to 1,4-quinones using NBS: fine-tuned control over bromination and oxidation reactions.

[figure: see text] Fused 1,4-dimethoxybenzenes could be oxidized to benzoquinones by either direct oxidation or demethylation-oxidation. The oxidative demethylation of 5,8-dimethoxy-2-methylquinoline using 1.1 equiv of NBS in aqueous THF and a catalytic amount of H2SO4 at 20 degrees C for 5 min gave 2-methylquinoline-5,8-dione in 98% yield without bromination. Moreover, we can control either bromination or oxidative demethylation, or both reactions.