Highly Diastereoselective (4 + 3)‐Cycloannulation of Carbonyl Ylides and 3‐Aryl‐1‐(2‐(1‐Arylvinyl)phenyl)prop‐2‐Yn‐1‐Ones Enabled by Silver Catalysis

A highly diastereoselective (4 + 3)‐cycloannulation of in situ generated carbonyl ylides and 3‐aryl‐1‐(2‐(1‐arylvinyl)phenyl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ones enabled by silver catalysis is described. This study is the first to report the synthesis of naphthalenes with an oxa‐bridged motif using silver catalysis. The reaction's scope is broad and the oxa‐bridged naphthalene products were obtained in good to high yields and with excellent diastereoselectivities.