Abstract:
Styrene reacts with highly electrophilic monosubstituted 1,4-benzoquinones to provide pyranobenzoquinone and phenanthrene derivatives, depending on the nature of the quinone substituent. The participation of transient Diels–Alder adduct intermediates in these reactions and their thermal-induced rearrangements are discussed. The in vitro antiparasital effects of the pyranobenzoquinones against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are reported.