A copper-catalyzed
three-component difunctionalization of aromatic
alkenes to access 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives with diverse structures
is described. Experiments show that the difunctionalization reaction
is accompanied by ester exchange reaction with the solvent. In this
method, α-bromocarboxylates are used as radical precursors and
2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinones as radical trapping reagents. The substrate
scope is broad because various aromatic alkenes, 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinones,
and α-bromocarboxylates are employed in the reaction, and corresponding
products are obtained in moderate to good yields.