A novel method for the synthesis of substituted benzochromenes by ethylenediamine diacetate-catalyzed cyclizations of naphthalenols to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Concise synthesis of the natural products lapachenole, dihydrolapachenole, and mollugin

A new synthetic route for biologically interesting benzochromenes was developed starting from naphthalenols and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of ethylenediamine diacetate. This methodology was applied for the total synthesis of the biologically important natural products lapachenole, dihydrolapachenole, and mollugin with a benzochromene moiety.