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.

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