Studies in the Cyclopropa-arene series: Approaches to Cyclopropa[a]naphthalene and Cyclopropa[l]phenanthrene

Abstract

Attempted generation of cyclopropa[a]naphthalene (3b) and cyclopropa[l]phenanthrene (3c) by intramolecular 1,3-elimination from the aryllithium derivatives (2b) and (2c), respectively, fails. Instead products from organolithium disproportionation reactions are observed.