Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of α-Substituted β-Naphthol Derivatives: Scope and Mechanistic Investigation

A highly efficient dearomatization reaction of alpha-substituted beta-naphthols with excellent chemoselectivity and regioselectivity has been developed. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the dearomatized alkylation product is the thermodynamically more stable compound. The etherification product could be further transformed to the dearomatization product.