Iron-catalysed tandem cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of terminal allylic C(sp3) to C(sp2) of styrene and benzoannulation in the synthesis of polysubstituted naphthalenes.

A novel iron-catalysed tandem cross-dehydrogenative coupling and benzoannulation process was developed for the synthesis of biologically and synthetically important polysubstituted naphthalene derivatives from simple 1,2-aryl-propenes and styrenes in moderate to good yields.