Rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of triarylmethanols with internal alkynes via successive C-H and C-C bond cleavages.

The rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of triarylmethanols with internal alkynes effectively proceeds in a 1:2 manner via cleavage of C-H and C-C bonds to produce the corresponding naphthalene derivatives. Addition of tri- or tetraphenylcyclopentadiene as a ligand is crucial for the reaction to occur efficiently.