Catalytic Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts Reactions of Naphthols and Electron-Rich Phenols

The enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction is a powerful tool for the construction of benzylic stereocenters in a stereodefined manner. Significant advances have already been achieved with heteroarenes such as indoles and pyrroles; however, the reaction with homoarenes is less developed. This short review covers the most relevant literature on enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reactions with naphthols and phenols. 1 Introduction 2 Friedel-Crafts Reactions Involving 1,2-Nucleophilic Addition to C=X Bonds 3 Friedel-Crafts Reactions Involving Conjugate Nucleophilic Addition to Electrophilic C=C Bonds 4 Friedel-Crafts Reactions Involving -Allylic Complexes as Electrophiles 5 ipso-Friedel-Crafts Reactions 6 Conclusions