γγ-Disubstituted Itaconic Acids. Part 1. The Stobbe condensation of 1-arylnaphthyl ketones with diethyl succinate

Arylnaphthyl ketones condense with diethyl succinate yielding the stereoisomeric half-esters 2a–2d which were subjected to a series of reactions leading to 1-phenylphenanthrene and 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives. (E)-3-Ethoxycarbonyl-4-(4-methoxynaphth-1-yl)-4-arylbut-3-enoic acids ( 2b–d ) were converted finally into the corresponding naphtho[1,2-c]fluorenones ( 9 ). The structure of the products was established by IR. and UV. spectroscopy. The effect of substituents on the relative proportions of (E)- and (Z)-half-esters 2 was determined by chromatography and UV. spectroscopy.