Regioselective synthesis of poly-substituted naphthalenes via a Pd-catalyzed cyclization of modified Baylis-Hillman adducts: selective 6-endo Heck reaction and an aerobic oxidation cascade

Poly-substituted naphthalenes were synthesized via a Pd-catalyzed cyclization of modified Baylis-Hillman adducts having an o-bromophenyl acetonitrile moiety at the secondary position, in reasonable yields. The reaction involved a sequential 6-endo Heck reaction and an aerobic oxidation process.