Naphthalenes via Gold(III)-Catalyzed Addition of Aryl Alkynes to Ketones

Significance

Regioselective formation of polysubstituted naphthalenes is an important and challenging synthetic task. Reaction of benzylic carbonyl compounds with aryl alkynes under soft Lewis acid catalysis affords a variety of polysubstituted naphthalenes in good yields. This reaction can be quite useful for the preparation of fused polyarenes.