One-pot reductive coupling reactions of acetyl naphthalene derivatives, tosylhydrazide, with arylboronic acids

Abstract

In this study, a one-pot two-step reductive coupling between acetyl naphthalene derivatives, tosylhydrazide, and arylboronic acids, affording substituted 1(or 2)-(1-phenylethyl)naphthalenes in moderate-to-excellent yields, was reported. Notably, solvent played a crucial role in the coupling of 1-acetyl naphthalene derivatives (toluene) or 2-acetyl naphthalene derivatives (1,4-dioxane) as starting materials. Meanwhile, the scope of this one-pot coupling reaction was extended to 1(or 2)-naphthaldehyde substrates. Particularly, the system was also suitable to synthesize 1(or 2)-(1-phenylethyl)naphthalenes on a multi-gram scale, and was applied in the synthesis of naphthylmethyl substituted carbazolyl compounds.