A Novel Method for the Synthesis of Substituted Benzochromenes by Ethylenediamine Diacetate-Catalyzed Cyclizations of Naphthalenols to α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes. Concise Synthesis of the Natural Products Lapachenole, Dihydrolapachenole, and Mollugin

A new synthetic route for biologically interesting benzochromenes was developed starting from naphthalenols and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of ethylenediamine diacetate. This methodology was applied for the total synthesis of the biologically important natural products lapachenole, dihydrolapachenole, and mollugin with a benzochromene moiety.