1, 1-Difluoro-1H-cyclopropa[a]naphthalene

1, 1-Difluorocyclopropa[a]naphthalene ( 1b ) is prepared in three steps from 4-bromo-1,2-dihydronaphthalene ( 7 ) via carbene addition, benzylic bromination and bidehydrohalogenation. Structural evidence for formation of 1b is based on ¹H- and ¹⁹F-NMR spectroscopy. Compound 1b is stable in solution at ?30°. Upon reaction with MeOH/H⁺ it is converted to a 1:2 mixture of 1- and 2-methylnaphthoate ( 10 and 11 , respectively).