Annulation of β-Enaminonitriles with Alkynes via RhIII-Catalyzed C-H Activation: Direct Access to Highly Substituted 1-Naphthylamines and Naphtho[1,8- bc]pyridines.

A Cp*RhIII-catalyzed oxidative annulation of β-enaminonitriles with alkynes was reported to achieve selective synthesis of polysubstituted 1-naphthylamines and naphtho[1,8- bc]pyridines via multiple C-H activations. Assisted by a naphthylamine NH2 group, 1-naphthylamines were also readily cyclized to produce naphtho[1,8- bc]pyridines. In addition, the obtained naphtho[1,8- bc]pyridine derivatives exhibit intense fluorescence in the solid state.