para-Quinones feature extensively as targets and/or intermediates throughout a number of chemical and biological subdisciplines, highlighting the importance of efficient preparative methods. This Synpacts article provides an overview of ring forming approaches to para-hydroquinones and para-benzoquinones, concluding with our recent contribution concerning the development of 2,5-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)furans as vicinal bisketene equivalents in the Diels–Alder reaction.1 Introduction2 Ring Forming Approaches to para-Quinones2.1 Hauser–Kraus Annulation2.2 Moore–Liebeskind Rearrangement2.3 Wulff–Dötz Reaction2.4 Oxidative Bergman Cyclization2.5 Diels–Alder Strategies2.5.1 Ketene–Enol Equivalents2.5.2 Bisketene Equivalents3 Toward an Improved Bisketene Equivalent4 Conclusion