Transannular methanol adducts of a photo-dimer from methyl 2-Methoxy-1-naphthoate

Abstract

U.v. irradiation of methyl 2-methoxy-1-naphthoate in methanol yielded two kinds of methanol adducts (3) and (4), along with the cage-compound (2c). These methanol adducts, except (4c), were easily hydrolysed by acid to ketones (5b), (6a) and (6b), respectively. In the presence of methyl-1-methoxy-2-naphthoate the yield of the methanol adducts increased at the expense of the cage-compound.