The reaction of α,β-disubstituted (E)-o-(trimethylsilylethynyl)styrenes with a substoichiometric amount of diisobutylaluminum hydride at 100°C gave 1,2,3-trisubstituted naphthalenes. This benzocyclization is initiated by regioselective hydroalumination of the alkyne moiety, and the resultant alkenylaluminums lead to naphthalenes through intramolecular carboalumination, skeletal rearrangement, and dehydroalumination steps. The silylated products could be efficiently transformed into iodinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
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