The synthesis of substituted 1,4-benzoquinones, a biologically important class of compounds, was developed using [mu]-oxodi(phenyliodanyl) diacetate, a (diacetoxyiodo)benzene-based oxidizing reagent, in order to introduce second-year undergraduate organic laboratory students in their second semester or advanced organic students to increasingly popular and environmentally friendly hypervalent iodine chemistry. This experiment develops on concepts found in the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum; conveniently fits into approximately two 3 h lab modules; and utilizes regularly found equipment and inexpensive, commercially available chemicals.