Interesting Reactivity in the Thermolysis and Photolysis of 2,3-Diphenyl-1-naphthol

Abstract  2,3-Diphenyl-1-naphthol (1) undergoes two unexpected reactions under different conditions. Compound (1) was heated in DMSO-d₆ and underwent a Pummerer type thermal reaction to give two isomeric products, 1-(methylthio)methoxy-2,3-diphenyl naphthol-d₅ which crystallized in the space group with a = 7.1610(9) ?, b = 11.2795(15) ?, c = 12.8905(17) ?, α = 114.049(2)°, β = 96.589(2)°, and γ = 102.945(2)°, and 2-(methylthio)methyl-2,3-diphenyl 1(2H)-naphthalenone-d₅ which crystallized in the space group with a = 8.5981(5) ?, b = 10.4374(6) ?, c = 11.1078(6) ?, α = 78.748(2)°, β = 67.709(2)°, and γ = 83.184(2)°. Photolysis (254 nm) of (1) resulted in 2,2′,3,3′-tetraphenyl-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol which crystallized in the space group P2₁/c with a = 26.3616(11) ?, b = 10.1707(4) ?, c = 23.3376(9) ?, and β = 99.034(2)°. Graphical Abstract  When 2,3-diphenyl-1-naphthol was heated in DMSO-d₆ two unexpected isomers, 1-(methylthio)methoxy-2,3-diphenyl naphthol-d₅ and the racemate 2-(methylthio)methyl-2,3-diphenyl 1(2H)-naphthalenone-d₅ were produced. Photolysis in THF at 254 nm led to the unexpected product 2,2′,3,3′-tetraphenyl-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol. All structures were elucidated by X-ray crystallography.