A new synthetic approach to aromatic diols substituted with two, three, and four (similar or different) phosphorus groups via the Michael-type addition of the PH bond containing reagents to p-benzoquinone derivatives, reoxidation, and subsequent addition of another phosphorus unit is presented. A variety of new phosphorus-containing p-hydroquinone derivatives were synthesized and fully characterized. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.