Abstract A new method for the synthesis of 4H-benzo [de] isoquinolin-4-ones has been developed, based on the reaction of 2-naphthyl ethers with an equimolar quantity of 1, 3, 5- triazines in polyphosphoric acid. With a 2.5 molar excess of 1, 3, 5-triazines in polyphosphoric acid, the products of 1, 6-diacylation (diformylation) are formed. Isoquino [6′, 5′, 4′: 10, 5, 6] anthra [2, 1, 9-def] isoquinoline is formed upon reaction of a 1.5 ...