Condensation of α- and β-acetylnaphthalene with dimethy1 β,β-dimethyl glutarate

α- and β-Acetylnaphthalenes condensed with dimethyl β,β-dimethyl glutarate in the presence of sodium hydride to give the corresponding half-esters, the E-isomers 2a and 2b being predominant. The structure and configuration of the half-esters were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic means.