Palladium-catalyzed aminobenzannulation during Sonogashira couplings using o-bromoacetophenone

The palladium-catalyzed coupling of alkynes with o-bromoacetophenone has been investigated. If this reaction is conducted in an amine solvent and is allowed to proceed for a lengthy reaction time, a benzannulation process, resulting in an aminonaphthalene derivative, follows the expected Sonogashira coupling. The scope and limit of this reaction has been briefly investigated.