Synthesis of naphthalene-substituted aromatic esters via Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H bond naphthylation and cascade directing group transformation.

A regioselective Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H bond naphthylation and cascade directing group (DG) transformation has been realized with aryl imidates and oxa bicyclic alkenes. Diverse naphthalene-substituted aromatic esters were synthesized fruitfully. The DG transformation into ester endows the strategy with chances of further C-H bond functionalization and derivatization. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrate that the ester carbonyl oxygen possibly originates from the corresponding oxa bicyclic alkene.