The "White catalyst", developed by Professor M. Christina White and her team at the University of Illinois-Urbana, has proven to be an outstanding catalyst for the functionalization of allylic carbon centers.
DDQ (2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone), which exhibits stronger oxidizing properties than 1,4-benzoquinone, serves as a reagent in oxidative coupling and cyclization reactions, as well as in the dehydrogenation of hydroaromatic compounds.
