Catalyst-Assisted Synthesis of Naphthalene Derivatives

The catalyst‐assisted construction of naphthalene cores has undergone remarkable advancement, driven by the need for efficient routes to bioactive molecules, functional materials and advanced dyes. Transition metal catalysts have enabled selective C–C bond formation through cross‐coupling, C–H activation and ring‐forming cyclisations, while organocatalytic and photoredox methods have provided complementary strategies under mild conditions. Key developments include domino annulative cyclisations that stitch together unsaturated precursors into fused bicyclic scaffolds, cationic cyclisation sequences that forge the central aromatic framework and oxidative aromatisation steps that introduce full conjugation. These approaches deliver high atom economy, regioselectivity and, in some cases, enantiocontrol, addressing demands for sustainability and structural diversity. Ongoing efforts focus on expanding substrate scope, incorporating renewable feedstocks and integrating flow processes to scale up production of naphthalene derivatives with tailored substitution patterns.

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Catalyst-Assisted Synthesis of Naphthalene Derivatives publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in catalyst-assisted synthesis of naphthalene derivatives across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Transition metal catalyst: A metal complex that facilitates bond‐forming reactions by cycling through oxidation states.

Annulative cyclisation: A process in which two unsaturated fragments combine and cyclise in a single operation to form a ring.

Suzuki cross‐coupling: A palladium‐catalysed reaction between an aryl halide and a boronic acid to form a new C–C bond.

Oxidative aromatisation: Dehydrogenation of a dihydroaromatic intermediate to generate a fully conjugated aromatic system.

Cation-induced cyclisation: A ring‐forming reaction initiated by a carbocation intermediate, often generated in situ.

Enantioselectivity: Preferential formation of one enantiomer over another in an asymmetric reaction.

References

1. Transition Metal-Mediated Annulation Approaches for Synthesis of Arylnaphthalene Lignan Lactones. Frontiers in Chemistry (2020).
2. Total synthesis of justicidin B, justicidin E, and taiwanin C: A general and flexible approach toward the synthesis of natural arylnaphthalene lactone lignans. Frontiers in Chemistry (2022).
3. Coinage Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions of ortho-Alkynylaryl and Heteroaryl Aldehydes and Ketones. Molecules (2022).