Methoxylated phenylethanals were treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid in 1, 4- dioxane to give methoxylated 2-phenylnaphthalenes or 1, 2, 9, 10-tetrahydro-1, 9- epoxydibenzo [a, e] cyclooctenes. Yields in 2-phenylnaphthalenes were quite good and 1, 2, 9, 10-tetrahydro-1, 9-epoxydibenzo [a, e] cyclooctenes could be easily isolated. 2- Phenylnaphthalenes were obtained by a tandem aldol condensation-intramolecular ...