CuO/I2-Mediated Intramolecular Annulation for the Synthesis of 2-Aroyl-3-hydroxy-4-iodonaphthalenes.

A novel strategy has been developed for the direct synthesis of 2-aroyl-3-hydroxy-4-iodonaphthalenes from easily available (Z)-2-(hetero)arylidene-1-(hetero)arylbutane-1,3-diones in the presence of copper(II) oxide and iodine. This domino process involves consecutive methyl iodination/carbon–carbon double bond isomerization/6π-electrocyclization/aromatization/arene iodination sequences.