Acid-catalyzed reactions of cyclobutanones. III. Formation of substituted 2-tetralones from α-phenylcyclobutanones

Abstract

A series of cyclobutanones 1–5 were found to rearrange to β-tetralones 6–10, respectively, in the presence of phosphorous pentoxide in benzene at room temperature. The structures of the β-tetralones were inferred by conversion of a number of these known naphthalene derivatives. Possible mechanistic pathways are discussed.