The use of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) for the oxidative demethylation of various quinoline and isoquinoline hydroquinone 5, 8-dimethylethers and 5, 6, 8- or 5, 7, 8-trimethylethers, and its application to the preparation of isoquinoline quinone antibiotics, mimocin (5f) and renierone (5g) are described.
