A new titanium tetrachloride mediated annulation of alpha-aryl-substituted carbonyl compounds with alkynes: A simple and highly efficient method for the regioselective synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives.

A new straightforward procedure has been developed for the synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives. The reaction of alpha-aryl-substituted carbonyl compounds with terminal or internal alkynes in the presence of TiCl4 regioselectively generates substituted naphthalene derivatives in good to excellent yields.