Cu(II)-catalyzed domino construction of spironaphthalenones by dearomatization of β-naphthols and using N , N -dimethylaminoethanol as a C1 synthon.

Herein, a Cu(II)-catalyzed facile construction of synthetically valuable spiro compounds from β-naphthols in air is reported, in which N , N -dimethylaminoethanol (DMEA) serves as an efficient and unique C1 synthon. This transformation proceeds through an ortho -quinone methide ( o -QM) formation/Michael addition/dearomatization sequence, affording various spiro(naphthalenenaphtho)furan-2-ones in moderate to excellent yields.