Abstract: The oxidative dehydrogenation of dihydroarenes catalyzed by 2, 3-dichloro-5, 6- dicyano-benzoquinone (DDQ) and NaNO 2 with dioxygen is reported. The combination of DDQ and NaNO 2 showed high efficiency and high selectivity, compared with other benzoquinones and anthraquinones, eg,> 99% conversion of 9, 10-dihydroanthracene with 99% selectivity for anthracene can be obtained at 120 C under 1.3 MPa O 2 for 8 h. ...