Iron-Promoted Electrophilic Annulation of Aryl Enynes with Disulfides or Diselenides Leading to Polysubstituted Naphthalenes

An iron-promoted electrophilic annulation of aryl enynes with disulfides or diselenides has been developed. In the presence of iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) and iodine (I-2,), a variety of trifluoromethyl-containing aryl enynes underwent electrophilic annulation with various disulfides or diselenides successfully to afford the corresponding polysubstituted naphthalenes in moderate to excellent yields.