Bismuth triflate catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of allyl naphthyl ethers

Bismuth triflate was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Claisen rearrangement of allyl naphthyl ethers. The reaction proceeds smoothly with a catalytic amount of bismuth triflate (20 mol %) to afford the corresponding ortho-allyl naphthol in moderate to good yields in most cases. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.