Construction of substituted benzene rings by palladium-catalyzed direct cross-coupling of olefins: a rapid synthetic route to 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives.

Ring the changes: the direct cross-coupling of electron-deficient 1,4-benzoquinone or its derivatives with electron-rich alkyl vinyl ethers proceeds in a tandem manner to produce substituted benzene rings with good selectivity and in good to excellent yields. The reaction has the potential for the rapid synthesis of diverse substituted benzene rings as it is not limited by substituent effects.