Oxidation of hydroquinones by a (salen)ruthenium(VI) nitrido complex

Hydroquinone is readily oxidized by a (salen)ruthenium(VI) nitrido complex in the presence of pyridine to give benzoquinone. Experimental and computational studies suggest that the reaction occurs via a novel mechanism that involves an initial electrophilic attack at the aromatic ring of the hydroquinone by the nitrido ligand.