Sequential Strategies to Trigger Mild Dearomative Diels-Alder Cyclizations

Org Lett. 2023 Apr 7;25(13):2233-2237. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c00454. Epub 2023 Mar 24.

Abstract

Dihydronaphthalenes are present in several functional molecules, but their assembly is challenging. However, a sequential strategy can induce the key annullation of an alkyne with a vinylarene under mild conditions. Products form in good yields, with ample functional tolerance via domino nucleophilic substitution and dearomative Diels-Alder and ene reactions. DFT modeling data show that alkali cations are crucial to ensure a smooth dearomative cyclization on the in situ generated intermediates.