Abstract: | The intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclisation of ω-arylalkanoic acids, which is in the benzene series a valuable synthetic route to bicyclic ketones with medium-sized and large rings, has been investigated with ω-(1-naphthyl)alkanoyl chlorides. The lower members, including naphthyl-caproic acid, close the ring at position 2 to form IV. The higher homologous acids show a preference for annellation at 7, making available a new type of heteronuclear naphthalene cyclic ketones (VII). During cyclisation of ω-(1-naphthyl) decanoic acid, the 1,4 ring closure competes with the 1,7 type. Steric hindrance of resonance as a consequence of “medium ring torsion” was studied in different classes of naphthocyclenones. |