BF3-catalyzed oxidative tandem annulation-aromatization of naphthols with terminal aryl alkenes

A metal-free oxidative arene/alkene annulation-aromatization has been realized, which enables efficient synthesis of 2-arylnaphtho[2,1-b]furans from readily available terminal aryl alkenes and 2-naphthols. Mechanistic study suggests that this reaction proceeds via tandem cyclization, dehydrogenative rearomatization and aromatization.145