The Construction of Polysubstituted Aromatic Core Derivatives via a Cycloaddition/Oxidative Aromatization Sequence from Quinone and β‐Enamino Esters

An unexpected strategy has been discovered for the construction of polysubstituted aromatic core derivatives from the reaction of quinones or N ‐substituted maleimides with β‐enamino esters by a cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization sequence that provides products contrary to those delivered by the Nenitzescu reaction. The current method provides a highly favorable synthetic strategy for the efficient construction of important therapeutic agents containing polysubstituted aromatic core structures.