use strict;
my $str = '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 "';
my $regex = qr/(?:(START)(?=.*END)|\G(?!^))((?:(?!START|END)(?>\\+\"|[^\r\n\"]))*)\"/mp;
my $subst = '$1$2\\\\"';
my $result = $str =~ s/$regex/$subst/rg;
print "The result of the substitution is' $result\n";
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 Perl, please visit: http://perldoc.perl.org/perlre.html