# If you'd like to omit non-matching lines from the result; add ';d' to the end of the expression.
sed -E 's/(?:(START)(?=.*END)|\G(?!^))((?:(?!START|END)(?>\\+\"|[^\r\n\"]))*)\"/$1$2\\"/gm;t' <<< "This \" is START an \" example input END string \"\"
START This is a \"\" second example END
This\" is \"a START third example END \" \"
START This is a \"\"\\"\"\\\\\\"\"\" test \"\" test\\" second example END \" and more \"\"\"\" END \""
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for SED, please visit: https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/manual/html_node/The-_0022s_0022-Command.html