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Independent control of halide substitution at six of the seven naphthalene positions of 2-arylnaphthalenes is achieved through the regioselective benzannulation of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoalkynes. The modularity of this approach is demonstrated through the preparation of 44 polyheterohalogenated naphthalene products, most of which are difficult to access through known naphthalene syntheses. The outstanding regioselectivity of the reaction is both predictable and proven unambiguously by single-crystal X-ray diffraction for many examples. This synthetic method enables the rapid preparation of complex aromatic systems poised for further derivatization using established cross-coupling methods. The power and versatility of this approach makes substituted naphthalenes highly attractive building blocks for new organic materials and diversity-oriented synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyheterohalogenated naphthalenes are synthesized by using a copper ‐ catalyzed regioselective benzannulation of chloro ‐ , bromo ‐ , and iodoalkynes. This modular approach based on readily available haloalkynes and benzaldehydes provides independent control of halide substitution at six of the seven naphthalene positions of 2 ‐ arylnaphthalenes. Insight into the reaction mechanism and the origin of the regioselectivity is described by W. R. Dichtel et al. in their Full Paper on page 18122 ff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]