Studies on double acylation of aromatic hydrocarbons. XI. A total synthesis of 5,6-Dihydro-4H-benz[de]anthracene

Abstract

Starting from ethyl 3-(1-naphthyl)propionate (1), the dibasic acid 4-(4-carboxy-ethyl-I-naphthyl)butyric acid (3) was prepared, which served as a key compound for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydro-4H-benz[de]anthraoene (6) by a double intramolecular cyclization. The monocyolization of the dibasic acid (3) gave rise by a preferential six-membered ring closure, to 3-(1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-phenanthryl)propionic acid (7). A partial synthesis of 5,6-dihydro-4H-benz[de]anthracene (6), by succinoylation of perinaphthane followed by usual synthetic steps, is reported as confirmatory evidence of the identity of (6) obtained by double cyclization of the diacid. Some aspects of the orientation of intramolecular acylation are discussed.