Novel intermediates, process for their preparation and synthesis of 1, 4-benzoquiones

A process in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the process further contains the steps of;

• cooling the reaction mixture to 0-5° C., preferable over a period of about 10 minutes, and adding HNO3 in order to increase the yield of formula (II).

A compound having the formula (IV),

• wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein phenyl and benzyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl and halogen, and wherein C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents, and wherein R2 and R3 together can form a C1-C6-alkylene radical, optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group comprising C1-C6, benzyl, phenyl and halogen.

A compound having the formula (V)

• wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein phenyl and benzyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl and halogen, and wherein C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents, and wherein R2 and R3 together can form a C1-C6-alkylene radical, optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group comprising C1-C6, benzyl, phenyl and halogen.

A compound having the formula (VI)

• wherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein phenyl and benzyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl and halogen, and wherein C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents, and wherein R2 and R3 together can form a C1-C6-alkylene radical, optionally substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from the group comprising C1-C6, benzyl, phenyl and halogen.

A method for the preparation of coenzyme Qn of formula (VII)

• Wherein a compound of the formula (II), R1, R2, R3 and are as defined above, and R4 is H,
• is prepared by reacting a compound of formula (III)
• wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined above, with a peroxide oxidant preferable H2O2, in an acidic solvent, preferable AcOH, with the presence of an acid catalyst such as para-toluenesulfonic acid, and then activating the compound of formula (II) by conventional methods, and coupling of the activated compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (VIII)