A practical, green and selective approach toward the synthesis of pharmacologically important quinone-containing heterocyclic systems using alumina-catalyzed Michael addition reaction.

A convenient method for double Michael additions to quinone systems catalyzed by Al2O3, is reported. The advantages of this method include the use of a cheap and environment-friendly catalyst, a straightforward isolation of the pure product by filtration, high yields, and excellent selectivity, thus providing rapid access to useful building blocks for the preparation of biologically active quinones.