Rh(III)-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions of Sulfoxonium Ylides with α-Diazocarbonyl Compounds: An Access to Highly Functionalized Naphthalenones.

An unprecedented cascade reaction of benzoyl sulfoxonium ylides with α-diazocarbonyl compounds leading to the formation of highly functionalized naphthalenones containing a β-ketosulfoxonium ylide moiety is presented. Promisingly, the naphthalenone derivative thus obtained was found to be a versatile intermediate toward diversely functionalized naphthalene derivatives including substituted 1-naphthol, 2-hydroxynaphthalen-1(2 H)-one, naphthalen-1,2-dione, and 2-(methylsulfinyl)naphthalen-1-ol.