The First Example of Dienediamine Utilization in the Nenitzescu Reaction

For the first time, a dienediamine – 2,4-bis(dimethylamino)-1-nitrobuta-1,3-diene – has been used in a reaction with benzoquinone to give ‘Nenitzescu’ product 2-(2-dimethylaminovinyl)-5-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzofuran together with 1,4-cycloaddition products 2,6-bis(dimethylamino)-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2,6-bis(dimethylamino)-5,10-anthraquinone.