UCLA

This study describes an efficient and convenient triphenylphosphine-mediated γ-umpolung/aldol/Wittig cascade reaction. This is the first time that phosphine has been used to mediate a multi-component coupling reaction involving alleonates, nucleophiles, and substituted o-phthalaldehyde to synthesize naphthalenes. The reaction condition has been optimized and employed in the synthesis of eight functionalized naphthalenes. This reaction proceeds under mild conditions and produces good to excellent yields.