‡ These authors contributed equally
Dedicated to Professor Reinhard Brückner (Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg) on the
occasion of his 64th birthday
Abstract
The Dötz benzannulation is a named reaction that utilizes Fischer chromium carbenes
in a formal [3+2+1] cycloaddition with an alkyne and CO to produce the corresponding
benzannulated product. Since its development in the 1970s, this reaction has been
extensively used in the synthesis of natural products and various molecular architectures.
Although the reaction sometimes suffers from the formation of other competing side
products, the rapid construction of naphthol structures with a 1,4-dihydroxy unit
makes it the most appropriate reaction for the synthesis of p-naphthoquinones. This review focuses on our group’s efforts over the past decade
on the extensive use of this annulation reaction along with the contributions of others
on the synthesis of different natural products.
1 Introduction
2 General Description and Mechanism of the Dötz Benzannulation Reaction
3 Applications of the Dötz Benzannulation in Natural Product Synthesis over the Last
Decade
4 Conclusion
Key words
Dötz benzannulation - natural products - cycloaddition - Fischer carbenes - naphthoquinones
