A general and efficient aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids promoted
by benzoquinone in water was realized, and provided phenols in 72–95% yields for 20
examples. The main advantages of this protocol are the use of water as solvent in
the presence of a catalytic amount of benzoquinone, and metal-free conditions.
Key words
benzoquinone - arylboronic acids - oxidation - oxygen - phenols