Structural study on a naturally occurring terphenyl quinone.

Two terphenyl quinones were synthesized for a structural study on a naturally occurring biologically active terphenyl quinone. 3-Methoxy-5,6-diphenylcyclohexa-3,5-dien-1,2-dione, a possible structure proposed by our analysis of the NMR spectra, was synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and subsequent oxidation of the resulting substituted phenol, although not being identical to the natural product. Recently isolated 3-methoxy-2,5-diphenylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1,4-dione was synthesized from a commercially available 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-benzoquinone in three steps in a good overall yield, and its NMR spectra were identical to those of the natural product.