Ruthenium-catalyzed coupling of α-carbonyl phosphoniums with sulfoxonium ylides <i>via</i> C–H activation/Wittig reaction sequences

Abstract

A Ru(ii)-catalyzed coupling of various α-carbonyl phosphoniums with sulfoxonium ylides has been realized for the facile synthesis of 1-naphthols in good to excellent yields. This oxidant-free transformation proceeds through Ru-catalyzed C-H activation of phosphoniums, Ru-carbene insertion, and intramolecular Wittig reaction processes.