Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Multiaryl-substituted Naphthols via a Removable Directing Group

Arene homologation employing internal alkynes as coupling partners and 2-pyridyloxyl as directing group through dual C-H bond functionalization was accomplished using (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)- rhodium(III) chloride dimer as a precatalyst. This protocol proved tolerant of synthetically valuable functional groups, and provided an expeditious access to highly congested naphthalene derivatives in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the pyridyl moiety could be removed to furnish the versatile (OH)-free naphthols.