The succc. ss of the recently developed synthesis of benzo [f] chromanones by cyclization of P-naphthoxypropionitriles obtained from addition of 8-naphthols to acrylonitrile 'suggested a study of the application of this method to other phenols, especially those in the benzene series. From phenol itself 3-pheno~ ypropionitrile~ was obtained in good yield, but a series of cyclization experiments gave only traces of impure ketonic material or no reaction. p- ...