-Type Regiocontrolled Benzannulation for the Synthesis of Uniquely Substituted α-Arylnaphthalenes: Application to the First Total Synthesis of Chaihunaphthone.

A distinctive method for synthesizing a variety of multisubstituted α-arylnaphthalenes utilizing novel regiocontrolled -type [4 + 2] benzannulation is presented. - and -substituted 1-Ar-1-Ar-2,2-dichlorocyclopropylmethanols (AACM) were transformed to the corresponding -type α-arylnaphthalenes. (i) The reaction of -AACM using TiCl or SnCl (1.