Bi(OTf)3-catalyzed allylation of quinones with allyltrimethylsilane

p-Quinones react smoothly with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of 2 mol%, of Bi(OTf)(3) under mild reaction conditions to afford the corresponding allyl substituted benzene derivatives, p-allylquinols and allyl substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones in excellent yields with high regioselectivity. This method is very useful for the direct introduction of an allyl functionality onto a quinone moiety. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.