Ruthenium-catalyzed coupling of α-carbonyl phosphoniums with sulfoxonium ylides via C–H activation/Wittig reaction sequences†
Abstract
A Ru(II)-catalyzed coupling of various α-carbonyl phosphoniums with sulfoxonium ylides has been realized for the facile synthesis of 1-naphthols in good to excellent yields. This oxidant-free transformation proceeds through Ru-catalyzed C–H activation of phosphoniums, Ru-carbene insertion, and intramolecular Wittig reaction processes.