Tandem Synthesis of 1,3-Disubstituted Naphthalenes via TfOH-Promoted Directed-Aldol and Friedel-Crafts Reactions.

A TfOH-promoted tandem synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted naphthalenes is developed via a directed-aldol reaction and a Friedel-Crafts reaction. Two new C-C bonds and one new benzene ring are created efficiently in one pot due to the discovery of a TfOH-promoted highly chemoselective directed-aldol reaction between two different ketones with α-hydrogens.