Base- and Light-Assisted Synthesis of Anthracenes from 3-Allylnaphthalene-2-carbaldehydes

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%.