DDQ is a well-known oxidising reagent, especially for reactions involving hydride abstraction from benzylic and allylic positions. But its use in the functionalization of alkanes involving hydride abstraction is not yet known. 6 The activity of DDQ is enhanced by the addition of protic or Lewis acids such as perchloric acid or BF 3 ĚOEt 2 . 7 If DDQ is activated by a super acid, 8 we predict that the oxidation of adamantanes is possible in spite of the extremely high oxidation ...