Selective synthesis of 1,1′-binaphthalene derivatives by oxidative coupling with TiCl4

Oxidative coupling of naphthalene compounds with TiCl4 in nitromethane under mild conditions gives symmetrical 1,1'-binaphthyls in good yields, The method is particularly useful when applied to substrates with electron donating groups, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.