Synthesis of 2,4,6-trisubstituted naphthalenes via novel copper-promoted tandem coupling and intramolecular cyclization

An unprecedented copper-promoted tandem coupling and intramolecular cyclization reaction is disclosed. This strategy offers a simple and promising method for accessing 2,4,6-trisubstituted naphthalenes. A reaction mechanism involving initial formation of diynes followed by a 6-exo-dig cyclization and subsequent rearrangement is proposed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.