Organocatalytic Atroposelective Cross-Coupling of 2-Naphthols with Diaryliodonium Salts

Due to their modularity and conciseness, atroposelective cross-coupling is one of the most attractive approaches for synthesizing axially chiral binaphthyl molecules. While transition metal-catalyzed cross-couplings provide reliable synthetic strategies, alternative methods that accommodate a broader range of substrates without their pre-functionalization are highly beneficial. Here, we demonstrate that using the bifunctional organocatalyst (DHQD)₂PHAL enables atroposelective cross-coupling of 2-naphthols and diaryliodonium salts with high efficiency, and yields (up to 72%) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% enantiomeric excess). Further transformations of the products highlight the versatility of other binaphthyl compounds while maintaining their axial chirality.