Triflic-Acid-Catalyzed Tandem Epoxide Rearrangement and Annulation with Alkynes: An Efficient Approach for Regioselective Synthesis of Naphthalenes

A facile triflic acid catalyzed method to synthesize 1-arylnaphthalenes from one-pot annulation reaction of arylepoxides and arylalkynes has been reported. The annulation reaction involves a successive epoxide to carbonyl rearrangement, electrophilic attack of carbonyl on arylalkyne followed by cyclization catalyzed by triflic acid. The present catalyst effects this transformation at room temperature itself.

Automated summary

A simple method to synthesize 1-arylnaphthalenes from one-pot annulation reaction of arylepoxides and arylalkynes catalyzed by triflic acid has been reported. The reaction involves successive epoxide to carbonyl rearrangement, electrophilic attack of carbonyl on arylalkyne, followed by cyclization catalyzed by triflic acid. The transformation can be achieved at room temperature with this catalyst.