Dearomatization reactions of phenols and their derivatives have evolved as efficient and practical methods for the synthesis of functionalized spirocyclic enones in the past decades. Here, an efficient metal-free intramolecular dearomatization cyclization of readily available naphthol-ynamides has been developed, enabling practical, atom-economical and divergent access to two azaspirocyclic compounds in mostly good to excellent yields with a wide substrate scope. Moreover, such a catalytic asymmetric dearomatization reaction has also been achieved by employing a chiral Brønsted acid as a catalyst.
