Synthesis of 2-benzylcyclobuta[a]naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid

Abstract

Syntheses of 3-benzyl-2,3-dihydrobenz[e]inden-1-one and the title compound are described, but attempts to convert the latter into a derivative of dibenzo[a,h]biphenylene were unsuccessful. The dehydration of 3-hydroxy-3-(2-naphthyl)-4-phenylbutanoate yields both the expected unsaturated acid and 2-(2-naphthyl)-1-phenylpropene, the latter possibly by a fragmentation reaction. Some statements in the literature about benzyl 1-naphthyl ketone have been corrected.