One-step synthesis of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid from naphthalene using cyclodextrin as catalyst

The one-step synthesis of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid from naphthalene with carbon tetrachloride, copper powder and aqueous alkali has been achieved under mild conditions by the use of β-cyclodextrin as catalyst, producing 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid in 65 mol-% yield with 79% selectivity.