A facile method for synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives through pyrrolidine catalyzed domino reaction

A novel synthetic method for polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives via a pyrrolidine-mediated cascade Michael/Henry reaction was developed, in which easily prepared 2-(2-oxoethyl)benzaldehydes and nitroalkenes were employed as the starting materials. The reaction consists of four consecutive reactions that include a cascade Michael/Henry reaction, a dehydration reaction, and an aromatization reaction in one pot to afford synthetically important naphthalene derivatives with moderate yields.