Naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione synthesis via palladium-catalyzed reverse hydrogenolysis

A reverse hydrogenolysis process has been developed for two-site coupling of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones with olefins to produce naphtha[2,3-b]furan-4,9-diones and hydrogen (H2). The reaction is catalyzed by commercially available Pd/C without oxidants and hydrogen acceptors, thereby providing an intrinsically waste-free approach for the synthesis of functionalized and potentially biologically relevant naphtha[2,3-b]furan-4,9-diones.