N, N,”,”-tetraethyl-1, 4-phenylenediamines exhibit delocalized mixed oxidation states when oxidized electrochemically. l-Butoxy-2, 6-bis (N, N-diethylamino)-4-ethy-nylbenzene was a key intermediate, and nucleophilic addition of lithium (trimethylsily1) acetylide to 2, 5-bis (N,