Synthesis of Benzodiquinanes via Tandem Palladium-Catalyzed Semipinacol Rearrangement and Direct Arylation

A palladium-catalyzed tandem semipinacol rearrangement/direct arylation reaction using alpha-aryl isopropenyl-tert-cyclobutanols has been developed. This reaction gives access to benzodiquinanes in moderate to good yields and tolerates alkyl-, alkoxy-, and halogen-substituted aryl groups.