Cu(ii)-catalyzed domino construction of spironaphthalenones by dearomatization of beta-naphthols and using N,N-dimethylaminoethanol as a C1 synthon

Herein, a Cu(ii)-catalyzed facile construction of synthetically valuable spiro compounds from beta-naphthols in air is reported, in which N,N-dimethylaminoethanol (DMEA) serves as an efficient and unique C1 synthon. This transformation proceeds through an ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) formation/Michael addition/dearomatization sequence, affording various spiro(naphthalenenaphtho)furan-2-ones in moderate to excellent yields.