NOVELTY - Preparation of a multi-substituted 2-naphthol (I) comprises adding an o-halogen benzyl halide compound (II), a solvent, and allyltributyltin in a high pressure reaction kettle, filling with carbon monoxide (CO), reacting at 20-200 degrees C and 0.1-1 MPa for 1-24 hours, separating by a silica gel column and alkaline alumina to prepare an o-halogen benzyl ketene (III); and adding a catalyst containing palladium, solvent, (II), and alkali in the reaction kettle, reacting at 20-150 degrees C for 10 minutes to 10 hours, and separating by silica gel column.    USE - Method for the preparation of a multi-substituted 2-naphthol (I) (claimed) used as an organic chemical raw material for synthesis of a dye; and as medical synthetic intermediate for medicine, pesticide, rubber auxiliary agent, spice, leather tanning, textile printing, and dyeing auxiliary agent.    ADVANTAGE - The multi-substituted 2-naphthol (I) has a good compatibility of functional group. The method uses a wide range of substrate, is environment-friendly, and produces mono product without isomer.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Preparation of a multi-substituted 2-naphthol of formula (I) comprises:    (A) adding an o-halogen benzyl halide compound of formula (II), a solvent, and allyltributyltin in a high pressure reaction kettle, filling with CO, reacting at 20-200 degrees C and 0.1-1 MPa for 1-24 hours, separating the obtained reaction liquid by a silica gel column and alkaline alumina to prepare an o-halogen benzyl ketene of formula (III), where the aromatic ring of (II) comprises benzene ring, naphthalene ring, alkyl, alkoxy, cyan, acyl, carboxyl, aldehyde group, ester group, or nitryl; and    (B) adding a catalyst containing palladium, solvent, (II), and alkali in the reaction kettle, reacting at 20-150 degrees C for 10 minutes to 10 hours, and separating the obtained reaction liquid by silica gel column.    The molar ratio of (II) to the catalyst containing palladium is 1:0.01-1:0.1. The molar ratio of the allyltributyltin to (II) is 1:1-1:2. The molar ratio of (III) to the catalyst containing palladium is 1:0.01-1:0.2.    X1, X2=F, Cl, Br, or I.