Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation Reaction of o-Bromobenzaldehydes with Carbonyl Compounds to Produce Naphthol and/or Naphthalene Derivatives

o-Bromobenzaldehydes undergo annulation with 1,3-diaryl-2-propanones in the presence of a palladium catalyst to give the corresponding 1,3-diaryl-2-naphthols in fair to good yields. From the reaction of the aldehydes with 2-substituted 2-alkenals are formed 2,4-disubstituted 1-naphthols and/or 1,3-disubstituted naphthalenes accompanied by decarbonylation.