Transition-Metal-Free Benzannulation of Tricarbonyl Derivatives with Arynes: Access to 1,3-Dinaphthol Precursors for the Synthesis of Rhodamine Dye Analogues.

Herein, we report a transition-metal-free annulation reaction of benzynes and 1,3-oxopentanedioate for the synthesis of highly functionalized naphthalene derivatives for the first time. Additionally, the representative naphthalene derivatives have been successfully transformed into the new series of rhodamine dye analogues.