Abstract: Treatment of arylacetones 1 with boron tribromide gives 1, 3-dimethyl-2- arylnaphthalenes 3 in fair to good yields by a tandem aldol condensation-intramolecular cyclization. This reaction is limited to the electron-rich arylacetones. In the case of methoxyphenylacetones, a demethylation occurs leading to 1, 3-dimethyl-2- hydroxyphenylnaphthols. Other cyclization may occur for orthomethoxyphenylacetones ...
