Ytterbium triflate-assisted catalytic oxidative cross-coupling of 2-naphthol derivatives

The oxidative coupling of 2-naphthol and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate derivatives with a copper catalyst under an O2 atmosphere was carried out. The reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of the Lewis acid, Yb(OTf)3, proceeded in a cross-coupling specific manner.