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A combined Lewis acid system comprising of two or more Lewis acids occasionally exhibits augmented catalytic activity in organic transformations which are otherwise unrealizable by either of the components exclusively. On the other hand, the efficient construction of multiple new C-C bonds and polycyclic structures in minimal steps remains a subject of great interest in both academia and industry. Herein we report an efficient method to assemble aryldihydronaphthalene derivatives via a cascade reaction of diarylalkynes with acrylates under the catalysis of a combined Lewis acid derived from In(III) salt and TMSBr.

The combined Lewis acid Me3SiBr/InCl3 shows unique performance in multireactions. The topology and catalytic properties of Me3SiBr/InCl3 were investigated by DFT method for clarifying the nature of chemical bonds and interactions. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis showed that the interaction between Me3Si‐halide and In‐trihalide mainly belongs to the closed‐shell interaction. Natural bond order of Br─In is 0.610 in INT_0 while natural bond order of Cl─In in INT_1 is only 0.081 at SMD‐ωB97XD/def2‐SVP level. The coupling reaction mechanism of alcohol and allyltrimethylsilane catalyzed by the complex of Me3SiBr/InCl3 was investigated with DFT method. The combined Lewis acid activates the hydroxyl group by strong coordination to silicone center, which leads to the generation of carbocation. Me3Si+ moiety from the combined Lewis acid is consumed and converts into the side product Me3SiOSiMe3. Furthermore, the reactant allyltrimethylsilane is introduced into the system to bring out the final product, and the complex Me3SiBr/InCl3 is reproduced at the same time. The combined Lewis acid Me3SiBr/InCl3 not only works as the catalyst for the reaction but also involves in the generation of side product. The interaction between two moieties of combined Lewis acid Me3SiBr/InCl3 is mainly ionic interaction. In coupling reaction of alcohol and allyltrimethylsilane, the combined Lewis acid Me3SiBr/InCl3 not only works as the catalyst for the reaction but also involves in the generation of side product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined Lewis acid system comprising of two or more Lewis acids occasionally exhibits augmented catalytic activity in organic transformations which are otherwise unrealizable by either of the components exclusively. On the other hand, the efficient construction of multiple new C-C bonds and polycyclic structures in minimal steps remains a subject of great interest in both academia and industry. Herein we report an efficient method to assemble aryldihydronaphthalene derivatives via a cascade reaction of diarylalkynes with acrylates under the catalysis of a combined Lewis acid derived from In(III) salt and TMSBr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]