Directly Fused Highly Substituted Naphthalenes <i>via</i> Pd-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Annulation of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-Dimethylaminomethyl Ferrocene Using a Redox Process with a Substrate

Abstract

N,N-Dimethylaminomethyl ferrocenium could be generated in situ and served as a terminal oxidant for Pd-catalyzed directly dehydrogenative annulations of N,N-dimethylaminomethyl ferrocene and internal alkynes. This procedure utilized the redox activity of ferrocene and avoided adding an oxidant. A series of highly arylated naphthalenes functionalized by ferrocene were obtained in 53-81% yields.