Base- and light-assisted synthesis of anthracenes from 3-allylnaphthalene-2-carbaldehydes

Abstract The synthesis of substituted anthracenes from naphthalene precursors is described. The key step involved heating ortho -allyl substituted naphthalene-2-carbaldehydes and potassium t -butoxide in DMF with concomitant irradiation from a high pressure mercury lamp to afford anthracenes in yields of 76–98%.