Facile synthesis of 1,7,8-trifluoro-2-naphthol via DMAP catalyzed cycloaromatization

•1,7,8-Trifluoro-2-naphthol, a key synthetic intermediate for liquid crystal compounds with large dielectric anisotropy value, was synthesized.•DMAP catalyzed intramolecular cycloaromatization proceeded in good yield.•The developed method was short and efficient.

A facile synthesis of 1,7,8-trifluoro-2-naphthol, an important synthetic intermediate for liquid crystal compounds with a 1,7,8-trifluoronaphthalene structure, was developed starting from 4-bromo-1,2-difluorobenzene via DMAP catalyzed intramolecular cycloaromatization in 51% overall yield for the 6 steps.

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