The reaction between phenyllithium and substituted o-quinones (3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (TBQ), 1,2-naphthoquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone) results in the oxidation of C6H5- to C6H5., with the subsequent formation of biphenyl. Metathetical reactions yield M(TBSQ) (M = Li, Na, K; TBSQ(-) = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzosemiquinone) and the adduct Li(TBSQ)bpy (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine). Solutions of Li(TBSQ) + pyridine in toluene contain triradical species, and analysis of the EPR spectra bads to values for the spin-spin parameters. Similar results have been obtained for Na(TBSQ). An ideal structure has been calculated for [Li(C6H4O2.)](3); the magnetic properties for the resultant model are in good agreement with the experimental values, and the bond distances and angles with those for known oligomeric lithium complexes.