Highly selective oxidative cross-coupling of differently substituted 2-naphthols mediated by Cu (II)-tert-butyl amine complexes is described. The “cross”-products are obtained in good to excellent yields and the selectivity up to⪢ 90% is observed depending on the substitution of naphthol nuclei. The alternative procedures-the cross-coupling of free naphthols with CuCl (OMe) as well as the coupling of sodium naphtholates with anhydrous copper (II) chloride- ...
