Synthesis of Highly Substituted Naphthalene and Anthracene Derivatives by Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Arylboronic Acids with Alkynes

The rhodium-catalyzed oxidative 1:2 coupling reactions of arylboronic acids with alkynes effectively proceeds in the presence of a copper-air oxidant to produce the corresponding annulated products. Of special note, anthracene derivatives can be obtained selectively from 2-naphthylboronic acids.