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Updated: May 10, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
Synthesis of benzyl substituted naphthalenes from benzylidene tetralones
Lorraine M Deck1, Quintino Mgani, Andrea Martinez
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Abstract:
A convenient and efficient synthesis of novel highly substituted dimethoxybenzylnaphthalenes, which are precursors to several dihydroxynaphthoic acids, is described. The approach involves the use of aldol chemistry to provide a number of benzylidene tetralones, which are converted to the target naphthalenes in three steps, with good to excellent yields. Grignard reaction of intermediate benzyl tetralones provided 1-substituted benzyl naphthalenes. The reported synthesis is flexible and scalable and provides access to naphthalenes having a variety of substitution patterns. These benzyl substituted naphthalenes are being converted to naphthoic acids and the bioactivities of these compounds are currently being investigated.
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