Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Benzannulation of N-Pivaloylanilines with Internal Alkynes through Dual C−H Bond Activation: Synthesis of Highly Substituted Naphthalenes

Abstract

An efficient method was developed for the synthesis of highly substituted naphthalenes through rhodium-catalyzed oxidative benzannulation of N-pivaloylanilines with internal alkynes. The benzannulation reaction proceeded smoothly through dual C−H bond activation to produce the corresponding highly substituted naphthalene products in satisfactory to good yields.