A convenient method is disclosed for the synthesis of both 3-hydroxyisoquinolines and 2- hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinones from β-ketoesters using a one-pot aryne acyl-alkylation/ condensation procedure. When performed in conjunction with a one-step method for the synthesis of the β-ketoester substrates, this method provides a new route to these polyaromatic structures in only two steps from commercially available carboxylic acid ...