Cascade Alkenylation/Intramolecular Friedel–Crafts Alkylation: High Selectivity at the C7-Position of BINOL

An efficient and straightforward approach for the synthesis of C7 site-selective BINOL derivatives has been achieved via cost-effective Co­(III)-catalyzed C–H cascade alkenylation/intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation of BINOL units and propargyl cycloalkanols. Under the advantage of the pyrazole directing group, the protocol allows the rapid synthesis of various BINOL-tethered spiro­[cyclobutane-1,1′-indenes].